Mineral and energy resources
The mining and energy industries are critical to the Northern Territory's (NT) development, particularly in regional areas.
The NT has some of Australia's largest deposits of uranium, zinc-lead, bauxite, gold, phosphate and manganese.
The Territory also has high potential for other commodities, with exploration and developing projects underway for copper, rare earths, vanadium, lithium, tungsten, mineral sands and potash and more.
Find out more about mineral exploration and petroleum activities in the NT.
Fossickers have unearthed an array of gems and minerals in the NT. Read more about fossicking in the NT.
Developing mineral and energy resources
The NT Government’s Resourcing the Territory initiative includes a range of strategies designed to underpin the long-term sustainability of the Territory’s resources sector.
Find out more on the Resourcing the Territory website.
Laws and regulations
A list of legislation and regulations covering the exploration, mining and extractive activities in the NT is below.
Energy legislation and regulations
Petroleum: onshore and inland waters
Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016
Guide to Petroleum Environment Regulations (1.7 mb)
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)
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 1) 1981 (77.1 kb)
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 2) 1981 (32.9 kb)Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act (No. 3) 1981 (22.0 kb)
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Regulations 2001
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: 25 June 2019