Energy resources

The energy industry is critical to the Northern Territory's (NT) development, particularly in regional areas.

Developing energy resources

There are requirements you must meet if you're exploring for or producing energy resources in the NT.

Find out about:

You can get information about the Territory's known major commodities on the Resourcing the Territory website. This includes:

  • past and current production
  • resource figures
  • details of current projects
  • geological and industry information.

Laws and regulations

Below is a list of legislation and regulations covering the energy resources in the NT.

Petroleum: onshore and inland waters

Petroleum Act 1984

Petroleum Regulations 2020

Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016

Petroleum (Transitional) Regulations 2023

Petroleum: specific to Mereenie and Palm Valley

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Act (236.6 kb) PDF (236.6 KB)

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 1) 1981 PDF (77.1 KB)

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 2) 1981 PDF (32.9 KB)

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1981 PDF (22.0 KB)

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Regulations 2001

Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Previous Regulations as in force 1 September 1981 PDF (173.0 KB)

Petroleum: NT coastal waters

Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1981

Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Regulations 1987

Pipelines: onshore and inland waters

Energy Pipelines Act 1981

Energy Pipelines Regulations 2001

Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996

Environmental Offences and Penalties Regulations 2011

National Gas (Northern Territory) Act 2008

Pipelines: NT coastal waters

Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1981

Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Regulations 1987

Geothermal legislation

Geothermal Energy Act 2009

Geothermal Energy Regulations 2009

Other legislation relevant to petroleum and geothermal activities

Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976

Dangerous Goods Act 1998

Dangerous Goods Regulations 1985

Environment Protection Act 2019

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Heritage Act 2011

Heritage Regulations 2012

Marine Pollution Act 1999

Marine Pollution Regulations 2003

Native Title Act 1994

Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1978

Petroleum Royalty Act 2023

Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980

Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Regulations 1980

Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973

Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act 1969

Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010

Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011

Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998

Waste Management and Pollution Control (Administration) Regulations 1998

Water Act 1992

Water Regulations 1992

Weeds Management Act 2001

Weeds Management Regulations 2006

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011


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