It is easy to see why. The word itself feels final, associated with winding down. Yet for the Northern Territory, decommissioning represents something different – a new beginning. It is the chance to unlock a multi-billion-dollar industry, create skilled local jobs, and anchor Darwin as a hub for safe, efficient, and sustainable dismantling and recycling.

Australia carries an estimated $US40.5 billion decommissioning liability, with about 20 percent of that tied to the Browse and Bonaparte basins off our coastline. That translates into more than 2.1 million tonnes of subsea infrastructure, pipelines, platforms and floating systems that will eventually need to be removed, processed and recycled.

The Northern Endeavour FPSO is leading the way. After more than 25 years moored in the Timor Sea, it is soon to be disconnected and taken for dismantling, the first project of its kind in Australian waters. The scale is immense: risers cut and lowered, mooring chains removed, kilometres of subsea umbilicals flushed and a floating hull prepared for tow. And this is only the beginning.

Beyond the Northern Endeavour, other major offshore assets including Montara, Blacktip, Prelude, Crux, Barossa and Ichthys, will also require full decommissioning in time. Each project will involve the safe removal and responsible processing of infrastructure, bringing with it complex logistical demands but also significant opportunities for the Territory’s service and supply sector.

Darwin is geographically closer to much of this offshore infrastructure than any other port. It already has the East Arm Wharf, Marine Supply Base and, soon, the Darwin ship lift and Marine Industry Park, all capable of supporting decommissioning operations. A proposed module offloading facility at Middle Arm could expand this capability even further.

In addition to this infrastructure advantage, the NT also benefits from a capable and growing service sector. Local waste management specialists, fabricators, engineers, and logistics providers are well positioned to scale up for decommissioning contracts. Planned rail upgrades and projects such as the Chandler salt mine will add further disposal and recycling pathways, strengthening the Territory’s credentials.

Like any emerging industry, there are hurdles. Demand for decommissioning is not continuous. It arrives in peaks and troughs, which makes it challenging to sustain a permanent workforce without crossover from defence, maritime and other industries. Regulatory complexity is another barrier. Waste streams often cut across multiple agencies, including NT Health, NT EPA, local government and federal departments. Without streamlined processes, operators may prefer to send work to established hubs in Western Australia, even at higher transport costs.

The task ahead is to simplify these frameworks and give operators confidence that Darwin can deliver safely, sustainably and competitively.

Decommissioning is not glamorous. It rarely makes headlines. Yet behind the scenes, it is an industry in waiting, one that touches every part of the supply chain: heavy lift, logistics, engineering, diving, waste treatment, recycling and environmental remediation.

For the NT, it is an opportunity to diversify, to develop world-class expertise, and to ensure that the end of one story becomes the start of another. As the Northern Endeavour has shown us, decommissioning is vast in scope and high in value. If we embrace it, the Territory can position itself not only as a place where energy projects begin, but as the place where they responsibly and profitably conclude.