Scramble to keep Territory lights on as Blacktip gas stays offline
A Government minister has warned Territorians they could face blackouts while gas supply remains offline. Read what’s threatened.
The NT Government is scrambling to keep the lights on as the Top End’s primary gas supply remains offline.
Italian-energy company ENI shut down operations at its Blacktip offshore gas field in the days leading up to Tropical Cyclone Fina last month, but production remains offline because of damage sustained at its platform near Wadeye.
Blacktip has been the Top End’s primary gas source for energy generation since 2009, but supply has been impacted by disruptions since flow rates began to slow from the field in 2019.
Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Gerard Maley said the outage had placed significant pressure on the Territory’s already stretched electricity supply.
He urged Territorians to be vigilant to the threat of blackouts until additional gas stocks can be sourced.
He said Japanese gas company Inpex had increased gas supply to help stabilise the electricity network, and that PowerWater was also looking to shore up supply.
In a worst-case scenario, the NT could even be forced to buy east coast gas transported through the 622km Northern Gas Pipeline.
Mr Maley’s warning is similar to one delivered by former Labor Utilities Minister Rob Knight in 2009, when he urged Territorians who wanted guaranteed electricity supply to “buy a generator”.
He said the previous Labor Government’s two-year moratorium on onshore gas development was behind the current gas supply shortage.
Mr Maley said the government was taking the unusual step loss of warning the community about a potential loss of ENI’s gas because it could have an impact on householders and business operators.
“Like every household, our power system relies on secure supply - and when a major gas field is taken offline, it has real consequences,” Mr Maley said.
“We do not want to alarm Territorians, but we do want you to be informed. Blackouts are a possibility while these supply pressures continue. What Territorians also should know is that the Government is taking every possible step to keep the lights on.”
Mr Maley said the shortages reinforced the need to continue developing the Beetaloo Basin gas province and said the next six months would be critical as Tamboran Resources and Beetaloo Energy Australia prepared to sell appraisal gas.
The first appraisal gas is expected to flow into Channel Island power station by mid next year, with the Sturt Plateau Pipeline connection to Darwin under construction and Santos announcing plans last week to drill 12 Beetaloo Basin wells next year.
Meanwhile, Tamboran is working towards supplying Territory gas by mid-2026.
“If we want affordable electricity, if we want investment, if we want reliable power for our homes, hospitals and businesses well into the future, then we need the Beetaloo,” Mr Maley said.
He said electricity market reforms that passed through the NT parliament in October would drive smarter planning and infrastructure development.
PowerWater is currently suing ENI for the supply shortages it estimated cost almost $50m trying to source alternate supplies.
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Originally published as Scramble to keep Territory lights on as Blacktip gas stays offline
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