Beetaloo Basin gas production begins in Northern Territory

Gas production has commenced in the Beetaloo Basin, a massive onshore gas reserve located approximately 500 kilometres southeast of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. The Northern Territory government estimates the basin holds 430 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Proponents suggest the project could generate over A$17 billion in royalties and support 13,000 jobs over the next 20 years. Economic interests include providing cheap energy for sectors such as data centres. However, environmental groups and scientists have criticized the development, labeling it a “climate bomb” due to its impact on global warming.

The 28,000 square kilometre area is subject to various forms of Aboriginal tenure. While some land falls under the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal Land Rights Act, much of the basin is under federal native title, which does not grant Traditional Owners the power to veto resource extraction. Although developers including Beetaloo Energy, Tamboran Resources, and Santos have reached agreements with Traditional Owners, the validity of their consent regarding fracking remains a subject of intense debate.