Beetaloo the pipeline to the Territory’s future

The Beetaloo will support energy security and economic development in the Territory. It will meet long-term gas demand on the east coast and, has the potential to support our regional trading partners and a robust Australian economy. With strong support from the Northern Territory Government work is gathering pace.

And APA, an Australian ASX-listed energy infrastructure company, is fully committed to partner with the NT Government, our customers and our communities to bring this project to life.

This week, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced the finalisation of a pipeline permit for APA to construct and operate the Sturt Plateau Pipeline (SPP). This project will transport Beetaloo gas where it’s needed to help keep the lights on and power homes and businesses across the Territory from 2026.

APA also announced the finalisation of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement for delivery of the SPP with Traditional Owners, facilitated by the Northern Land Council.

For APA, meaningful Traditional Owner engagement is key to the success of all their projects - and they are putting that front and centre as they support the development of the Beetaloo.

This agreement closes out the necessary Traditional Owner consents required to move forward, complementing the separate and existing agreement in place between Traditional Owners and APA’s customer for the SPP, Tamboran Resources.

APA has had constructive engagement with Traditional Owners throughout this process - it’s been undertaken with consideration and respect, as it must be. And, as the company progresses to construction and to operation of this important piece of infrastructure, they will continue to engage and collaborate.

The SPP is the first of many potential future developments we will help unlock the Beetaloo for the benefit of Territorians.

The next opportunity is to flow Beetaloo gas to the east coast through a potential short-term solution. Through compression on the Amadeus Gas Pipeline, increased flows on the Northern Gas Pipeline, and a potential reversal of our Carpentaria Gas Pipeline, Beetaloo gas could land in southern markets sooner to help meet gas demand.

APA are also investing and planning for the longer-term infrastructure that has the potential to deliver Beetaloo gas at scale to the east coast and global markets. Early planning is underway on the proposed North East Australia Pipeline, which would be open access and collect Beetaloo gas from multiple producers.

Connected to an expanded APA east coast gas grid, running north to south and connecting major Australian demand centres and export gateways, this transformational project could deliver thousands of terajoules of Beetaloo gas to the east coast.

It would strengthen energy security, firm renewables, enable industrial growth and position the Territory as a cornerstone of Australia’s energy future.

It will also ensure our national economy avoids the disastrous and ludicrous option of importing LNG from global markets to meet our domestic energy needs.

When you account for the transport and processing costs associated with importing LNG, we are comparing landed imported LNG prices into Melbourne of around AUS$23 a gigajoule, to domestic Beetaloo gas on current forecast pricing landing below the AUS$12 price cap.

Beyond domestic supply, Beetaloo gas can support our highly valuable LNG export market.

LNG is one of Australia’s largest exports, providing our Asian trading partners with energy security and helping to contribute approximately AUS$85 billion to our national economy each year.

As a country, APA says that Australia needs to play it smart and use the corridors and assets they have collectively invested in over many decades to drive cost efficiencies, accelerate development, and to ensure they minimise the impacts on communities.

While there is still a way to go, APA are fully committed to support our customers, the NT Government, communities, Traditional Owners and energy consumers as they help bring the Beetaloo to life.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/08092025/beetaloo-the-pipeline-to-the-territorys-future/