Northern Territory LNG Terminal

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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Northern Territory LNG Terminal, also known as NTLNG, is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal proposed in Australia.

Location

The terminal is proposed to be located in the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in Wickham, Northern Territory, Australia.

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Project details

• Operator:

• Owner: Tamboran

• Parent company: Tamboran

• Location: Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in Wickham, Northern Territory, Australia

• Coordinates: -12.540309, 130.960794 (approximate)

• Capacity: 6.6 mtpa

• Trains:

• Status: Proposed

• Type: Export

• Start year: 2030

• Cost:

• Financing:

• FID status: Pre-FID (2026)

• Associated infrastructure: Beetaloo Gas Sub-Basin (Australia)

Background

Tamboran is proposing to build a 6.6-mtpa LNG export terminal on a block of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, for which it has been granted exclusivity by the Northern Territory government. The LNG project would receive low reservoir CO2 gas from the onshore Beetaloo Basin. Whether the project moves forward, with a final investment decision (FID) planned for 2026, remains subject to completion of the concept select study, successful Beetaloo appraisal drilling and flow testing, and also government approvals.

Tamboran is also working to develop a shale gas project in the Beetaloo Basin, which would presumably be a source of gas to the LNG terminal.

In June 2023, Tamboran secured two non-binding memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Shell and BP for the sale of 2.2 mtpa LNG each over a 20-year duration.

As of June 2023, the company expected first production to start in 2030.

In July 2023, Tamboran awarded a contract to the UK-based John Wood Group to undertake the concept select engineering phase for the still-proposed plant. The concept select phase was expected to be completed during the first half of 2024, ahead of entering pre-front-end engineering and design during 2024. The studies also include evaluation of the proposed three-train concept.

In May 2024, Tamboran started preparing for pre-frontend engineering design (FEED) for this project. Details were expected to be announced mid-2024. The company has completed the concept select studies. Tamboran is expected to start financial discussions once it enters the pre-FEED stage.

Environmental impact

In August 2023, The Australia Institute published a report on the potential emissions of the project. The report noted that Temboran managing director and CEO noted that the terminal could expand beyond the first phase 6.6 mtpa capacity up to 20 mtpa. At that operating capacity, the report found that the domestic emissions produced by the facility would be that of building three new coal-fired power plants, and that the life-cycle emissions would equal the emissions of 12 Australian coal-fired power stations.