Mineral and energy resources
The mining and energy industries are critical to the Northern Territory's (NT) development, particularly in regional areas.
Developing mineral and energy resources
There are requirements that must be met if you are exploring or producing mineral and energy resources in the NT. Find out more about:
- mineral exploration
- mineral titles
- petroleum activities
- petroleum titles
- geothermal titles and activities.
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.
Types of minerals in the NT
The NT has some of Australia's largest deposits of:
- uranium
- zinc-lead
- bauxite
- gold
- phosphate
- manganese.
Find out about the production of these and other minerals on the Resourcing the Territory website.
Fossickers have unearthed an array of gems and minerals in the NT. Read more on the Fossicking website.
Laws and regulations
A list of legislation and regulations covering the exploration, mining and extractive activities in the NT is below.
Minerals
Mineral Titles Regulations 2011
Mining Management Regulations 2001
McArthur River Project Agreement Ratification Act 1992
Merlin Project Agreement Ratification Act 1998
Minerals (Acquisition) Act 1953
Mining (Gove Peninsula Nabalco Agreement) Act 1968
Energy
Petroleum: onshore and inland waters
Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016
Schedule of onshore petroleum exploration and production requirements (776.0 kb)
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 (77.1 kb) PDF (77.1 KB)
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 2) 1981 (32.9 kb) PDF (32.9 KB)
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1981 (22.0 kb) 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 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 Regulations 2009
Other legislation relevant to mining, petroleum and geothermal activities
Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act, 1976
Dangerous Goods Regulations 1985
Environmental Assessment Act 1982
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Marine Pollution Regulations 2003
Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1978
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
Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Act 2009
Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998
Waste Management and Pollution Control (Administration) Regulations 1998
Weeds Management Regulations 2006
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011
Last updated: 18 May 2022
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