Gas pipeline owner APA Group has defied opposition from green group-aligned investors and deepened its involvement in developing the huge Beetaloo Basin gas resource in the Northern Territory, signing the first commercial deal to transport gas from the resource-rich region.

APA agreed with explorers Tamboran Resources and Daly Waters Energy on the terms that will underpin a new 37-kilometre pipeline from the partners’ Shenandoah South pilot project. That pipeline will join with APA’s established 1658km asset that runs north-south between Alice Springs and Darwin.