Investment Opportunities in Australia's Northern Territory
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Investment opportunities in Australia’s Northern Territory: Natural gas, hydrogen and critical minerals TheTerritory.com.au/invest i Contents Foreword 2 Shared history 3 Team Territory 4 Why the Territory? 9 Investment opportunities Oil and gas 10 Renewable hydrogen 12 Minerals 14 Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct 16 Supportive business environment 18 1 Foreword The Australia-Japan relationship is one of our most important. We are dynamic strategic partners that share universal values, and our relationship is sustained by strong and enduring ties of friendship, commerce and mutual respect. Japan is the Northern Territory’s largest We currently see three shipments of LNG My personal thanks to the Ambassador international trading and investment leaving our harbour each week for Japan. for supporting today’s event and to the partner and will remain so for the We want to do the same with hydrogen and Consulate-General of Japan for hosting foreseeable future. critical minerals, and to further grow our this joint seminar. natural gas production. I am proud to acknowledge that our My invitation is for you to take advantage nations have developed a strong and It is my great pleasure to present to you of what we have to offer and to join us in trusted relationship over many decades the range of opportunities emerging in the Territory. and I strongly believe the Territory natural gas, hydrogen and critical minerals, Andrew Cowan will play an increasingly important role including through 2 of the Territory’s Territory Investment Commissioner in our nation’s bilateral relations over most prospective and investment-ready the coming decades. projects, led by Arafura Resources and Empire Energy. While the Territory only represents 1% of Australia’s population, our jurisdiction covers one sixth of Australia’s enormous land mass and is blessed with abundant natural resources and spectacular natural wonders, which in turn offer exciting opportunities. This is a place where anything is possible. It is the location of Japan’s biggest-ever foreign investment – INPEX’s Ichthys project, which has delivered tremendous benefits to both Australia and Japan. Today we meet to consider the next pages to be written in our shared history. It is an opportunity to build on the capability the Territory has demonstrated delivering this project, and to cast our eyes to the next opportunities. 2 Shared history Japan and the Territory In the early 1900s, it took over a month to sail from Australia to have an extraordinary Europe, whereas the connection to Japan was only 8 days, making history of trading and Japan a natural early trading partner. This is when the Territory’s cultural links first trading ties with Japan started around pearling. There were almost 4,000 Japanese involved in the pearling and shell industries along Australia’s north and north-west coasts. The Territory’s modern pearling industry The Territory is a regular participant of the got underway with a fleet of abandoned Australia Japan Joint Business Conference. pearl luggers on a Darwin beach. An In 2014, the Territory had the honour of enterprising Greek migrant, Nicholas hosting the conference and hundreds of Paspaley, took the luggers and started business leaders from Japan and around a business. Over time, Nicholas and his Australia, including INPEX, Mitsubishi family introduced new cultured pearl Corporation, JGC Holdings Corporation, technologies with help from Japanese Chiyoda and Mitsui, and three of Japan’s scientists. The Paspaley connection with mega banks, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Japan has gone from strength to strength Corporation, Mizuho Bank and with Nicholas’ grandson, James Paspaley, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. being appointed in 2012 as Japan’s INPEX’s Ichthys project has seen numbers Honorary Consul in Darwin. of INPEX Japan-based staff visiting or Today, the Territory and Japan have a vital moving to Darwin, creating further enduring relationship extending well beyond trade, links. Would those early pearling pioneers with strong people-to-people links. steering their luggers through Darwin harbour have ever imagined huge LNG The Territory and Japan respect and honour tankers coming and going, as our trade has our wartime history. Each year, the Territory grown to provide long-term energy security welcomes senior Japanese Government to Japan? representation at the Bombing of Darwin commemorations. In 2015, the Territory The Territory and Japan have an Government was proud to support a extraordinary history that shows Darwin Japanese family from Osaka who wished really is Australia’s closest city to Japan, to scatter their mother’s ashes at the site both geographically and across a range of in Darwin Harbour where her WWII airman historic and modern ties. husband’s aircraft was downed. 3 Team Territory About the Territory Investment Commissioner and Major Projects Commissioner – The recent appointment of two new leaders, the Territory Investment Commissioner and Major Projects Commissioner means introducing 2 key links between industry and government. – Each of the commissioners reports to the Chief Minister Andrew Cowan Hayley Richards and has authority to make Investment Commissioner Major Projects Commissioner recommendations to ministers and present to Cabinet. They Andrew, as Investment Commissioner, Hayley, as Major Projects Commissioner, will oversee teams of about leads the Territory Government’s leads the Territory Government’s major 10 specialist staff from Investment promotion and attraction of investment projects and commercial group. in the Territory. Territory, with other staff to pivot Hayley has significant experience in between the 2 teams. Andrew has extensive experience project facilitation, industry development, – The commissioners and their teams delivering complex projects and driving economic policy, environment policy and will build on the work Investment strategic government priorities, most remote economic development policy Territory has done over the past recently in the defence, national security, and practice. digital and tourism sectors. Prior to 18 months and actively pursue the Hayley brings insights and a broad joining the Department of the Chief investment and business reform perspective on the intersect between public Minister and Cabinet, Andrew was the needed to achieve the Territory policy and commercial realities, having Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Government’s goal of a $40 billion spent a number of years as the Executive then Department of Trade, Business economy by 2030. Director of Economic and Environment and Innovation, with responsibility for Policy in the Territory Government’s, – The Major Projects Commissioner international engagement, trade and Department of the Chief Minister, advising will be the point of coordination investment, workforce development on issues covering the whole spectrum of for major projects and make and small business. it easier for businesses to the Territory economy. When Investment navigate approvals and create He has over 2 decades of executive Territory was established in 2019, Hayley led Territory jobs. The Major Projects leadership experience in the public and the formation of the commercial facilitation Commissioner will recommend private sectors, joining the Territory function that drove the Territory’s efforts to additional legislative changes Government in 2010. Andrew has tertiary accelerate delivery of major and significant where necessary to make it easier qualifications in science and education, projects in the sectors of mining, oil and to deliver projects, and will identify and is an Executive Fellow of the Australia gas, agribusiness, tourism and services, and legislative powers required to and New Zealand School of Government. continues to support projects in investment support their role, if needed. The and delivery today. Major Projects Commissioner will Hayley joined the Territory Government oversee the creation and operation in 2009. Prior to that, she held senior of sustainable development leadership roles the private sector in Asia precincts, and will chair the newly and the United Kingdom. Her tertiary formed Land Development qualifications are in economics. Corporation Board. – The roles of the commissioners will be their sole focus – their time will be dedicated to getting investment to the Territory. 4 Shaun Drabsch Anne Tan PSM Jason Howe Chief Executive Officer Deputy Chief Executive Officer Executive Director, Gas Taskforce Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade Mining and Energy Department of the Chief Minister Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and Cabinet Prior to his position with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Shaun Anne is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jason is the Executive Director, Gas led the former Department of Trade, Mining and Energy, Department Taskforce for the Territory Government’s Business and Innovation, following of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Anne has Department of the Chief Minister and more than 2 decades of executive 30 years of public sector experience, Cabinet. Jason and his team support Alister appointments spanning the public and previously holding senior roles in a number Trier, Gas Taskforce Chair to coordinate a private sectors. These appointments of Territory Government agencies, including whole of government effort to implement included the roles of Senior Economic the Department of the Chief Minister, the Northern Territory Gas Strategy, which Advisor to the former Queensland Premier