Budget Paper No.6 1997/98 Northern Territory Economy
Tabled Paper 3223
Tabled Papers for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; Tabled papers; ParliamentNT; Tabled Papers
1997-04-30
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory under Standing Order 240. Where copyright subsists with a third party it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/289257
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/404114
Projects emerging in ZOC-A are the Bayu-Undan oil and gas field, and the Elang/Kakatua oil fields. Oil production from the Elang/Kakatua fields is likely to commence in late 1997. The commercial production of gas from off shore fields is expected to take longer to achieve than its petroleum counterparts. First gas from Bayu-Undan through a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant could reach export markets by the year 2002. The main joint venture partners in Bayu-Undan (BHP and Phillips Petroleum Limited) are examining various options for the development of an LNG plant; a decision should be made in 1997. If the LNG plant proceeds and is constructed on shore in Darwin, the estimated development cost is about $2 billion (including an undersea pipeline from the Bayu-Undan field to the LNG plant). The project would generate in excess of 1 000 jobs during the construction phase and several hundred in operation; the LNG plant will process approximately 3 million tonnes of LNG per annum. It is expected that an LNG development will provide a critical mass which will encourage exploration and development of other gas resources within the Timor Sea. To help facilitate commercial benefits to Darwin, and to maximise flow-on effects to local industry and businesses, an Offshore Oil and Gas Business Development Working Group has been created. This group is convened by the Department of Mines and Energy and comprises Northern Territory Government agencies and industry associations. It is developing and implementing strategies to promote Darwins supply, service and construction capabilities. The development of an integrated industry supply and service base at or near the new East Arm Port is being investigated. This is seen to be a key to consolidating Darwins future as the regions most efficient supply and service centre. It is anticipated the supply base will be able to cater for the off shore oil and gas industry, mining and petroleum operations in eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and regional marine and defence support activities. Mining 48