Energy reports
Recharging the Territory: How $1.5 billion can create energy security and sustainable jobs for the NT
Year - 2025 Partners - Australian Conservation Foundation & Environment Centre NT
A new report finds the federal government’s $1.5 billion Middle Arm subsidy would be better spent on renationalising the Port of Darwin, reducing emissions and cutting the cost of living for Territorians.
New analysis backs calls for the Albanese government to redirect its $1.5 billion commitment for a gas and petrochemical hub on Darwin Harbour to re-nationalising the Port of Darwin and delivering a clean energy future for the Northern Territory.
Environment Centre NT and the Australian Conservation Foundation commissioned an update of the landmark 2024 Recharging the Territory report.
The report outlines a three-step plan to exceed 50% renewable energy by 2030, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and create thousands of skilled jobs.
The report sets out a landmark opportunity for federal investment in sustainable industries in the Northern Territory despite the Finocchiaro government’s decision to scrap the Territory’s renewable energy and 2030 emissions reduction targets earlier this year, and builds on the bipartisan commitment to re-nationalise the Port of Darwin.
It questions the value of the $1.5 billion commitment to dredge Darwin harbour and the Elizabeth River, clear woodlands and mangroves, deliver one of the world’s largest carbon pollution import terminals and construct wharves to export fossil gas, methanol and petroleum.
The report explains why the Middle Arm gas hub proposal doesn’t stack up, with the project business case rejected by Infrastructure Australia and described by energy economist Professor Bruce Mountain as a ‘white elephant’ that could result in severe budgetary pressure for the Northern Territory.
Recharging the Territory highlights
The report calls on the Albanese government to redirect its $1.5 billion commitment to the beleaguered Middle Arm gas hub to:
Re-nationalise the Port of Darwin: Invest $490 million to renationalise the Port of Darwin to restore public ownership of this key northern asset and deliver genuine, sustainable industrial growth at East Arm.
Build a big battery and solar farm to hit 50% renewables and beyond by 2030: Invest $254 million to construct 150 MW/600 MWh of new big battery capacity in the Darwin-Katherine Interconnected System.
Invest in skills and households: Train Territorians at four new renewable energy campuses at a cost of $25 million. Invest $225 million into a Climate Smart Housing Upgrade program for every low-income household in the NT. Invest $119 million to install solar, insulation and a modern air conditioning system in every single public housing dwelling in the NT.
Recharging the Territory - Jobs, skills, lower bills.
Year - 2024 Partners - Environment Centre NT
Recharging the Territory proposes an alternative economic vision for the Northern Territory (NT) that tackles the cost-of-living crisis, while creating energy security and thousands of sustainable, future-ready jobs.
Realising this vision could transform the lives of many people in the NT. It shows a path to kicking off a renewables revolution and allowing us to make large scale solar a reality. It outlines a package that would lowers power bills and gives breathing space for families who are doing it tough. Recharging the Territory gets workers ready for the renewable energy industry and creates thousands of sustainable, local jobs.
The Federal Government’s $1.5 billion dollar program to convert the Middle Arm peninsula into a major gas and petrochemical export hub will transfer public money into the hands of offshore gas companies with little benefit for Territorians, or for a competitive, clean economy future.
Funding this development will come at a significant cost to residents. It will:
impact our iconic harbour by dredging, building five product jetties, increasing shipping traffic and contaminating our marine environments
impact our health by increasing air pollution, which NT doctors say will increase the cancer risk in children in Darwin and Palmerston.
destroy any chance we have of securing a safe climate for future generations as it unlocks major gas projects across the Territory, dramatically increasing Australia’s national emissions.
Finally, it does not stack up economically, with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analytics finding that the business model is flawed and relies on unproven assumptions. The cost of this will fall on Australian taxpayers.
There is a better way.
This report shows that redeploying the Federal Government’s $1.5 billion dollar commitment into a Recharging the Territory Package would deliver more high-quality jobs for locals, directly tackle the NT’s cost-of-living crisis and provide the foundations for a strong and diverse new industry sector. We can invest in energy and skills to fix the NT’s unstable electricity system and provide energy security for households. We can deliver energy upgrades for every low income and public housing dwelling in the NT, which will give families economic relief in a cost-of-living crisis. Finally, we can expedite strategic industrial land development at East Arm or return the Port of Darwin to public ownership.