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.
Minerals legislation and regulations
Energy legislation and regulations
Petroleum: onshore and inland waters
Petroleum (Environment) Regulations
Guide to Petroleum Environment Regulations (1.7 mb)
Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 2016 (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 1981
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Regulations 1983
Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Regulations 2001
Petroleum: NT coastal waters
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Regulations
Pipelines: onshore and inland waters
Environmental Offences and Penalties Act
Environmental Offences and Penalties Regulations
National Gas (Northern Territory) Act
Pipelines: NT coastal waters
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Regulations
Geothermal legislation
Other legislation relevant to mining, petroleum and geothermal activities
Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act, 1976
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, 1978
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Regulations
Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973
Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act
Transport of Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act
Transport of Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Regulations
Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Act 2009
Waste Management and Pollution Control Act
Waste Management and Pollution Control (Administration) Regulations
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations
Last updated: 19 September 2018