More than a decade of investment, exploration and determination came down to one symbolic moment in the Beetaloo on 1 September.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King joined Tamboran Resources Chief Executive Officer Todd Abbott to turn on the first gas from Tamboran’s Shenandoah South Pilot Project, marking a major milestone for the company and the Northern Territory.

Hundreds of kilometres south of Darwin, Native Title Holders, government representatives, industry leaders, contractors, investors and media gathered on Country to witness the milestone and celebrate the people who had helped bring the project to life.

The commissioning of first gas coincided with the commissioning of the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility, creating the pathway for Beetaloo gas to enter the Northern Territory pipeline network and make its way north to Darwin.

For Tamboran, it was the culmination of years of work. For the Territory, it marked the arrival of a new locally produced source of energy and the beginning of what could become a significant new industry.

“Two years ago, we made a commitment that our first gas would be for Territorians, and we are incredibly proud to have delivered on that commitment,” Abbott said.

“To stand on country alongside Native Title Holders, our partners, governments, contractors and so many of the people who helped us reach this point was incredibly special.

“But first gas is not the finish line. It is the foundation for what comes next.”

Initial production from Shenandoah South is expected to ramp up to around 40 terajoules per day, providing new supply to the Northern Territory as existing sources decline.

But behind that first flow of gas sits a much larger investment story.

More than A$1 billion has been invested across the Beetaloo Basin over the past decade, with the development of Shenandoah South requiring a substantial network of businesses and contractors across drilling, civil construction, transport, aviation, logistics, accommodation, engineering and other services.

For Tamboran, building that supply chain within the Territory will become increasingly important as activity grows.

“This is a Territory resource and we want Territorians to share in the opportunity that comes with developing it,” Abbott said.

“That means working with Territory businesses, creating local jobs and building long-term capability here in the NT.”

Central to that approach is Tamboran’s relationship with Native Title Holders and the Northern Land Council.

Native Title Holders consented to the sale of appraisal gas from Shenandoah South under an agreement designed to deliver jobs and benefits for Traditional Owners.

Their presence at the first gas event reflected the important role those relationships will continue to play as development progresses.

“We recognise that we are operating on country and we want Native Title Holders to have meaningful opportunities to participate in the industry being developed there,” Abbott said.

“That means jobs, training, business opportunities and building relationships that can endure for the life of the project.”

While first gas represented a significant achievement, Tamboran’s ambitions for the Beetaloo extend well beyond the pilot project.

The company holds approximately 2.8 million net prospective acres across the basin and believes the resource has the scale to support development for decades.

The immediate business focus is straightforward: drill good wells, demonstrate repeatability and continue driving down costs.

Abbott brings more than two decades of unconventional energy experience to that task, including extensive work in the United States, where large shale resources transformed regional economies and energy markets.

“The next phase is about execution,” Abbott said.

“We need to continue drilling high-quality wells, improve efficiencies and demonstrate that we can repeat what we have achieved at Shenandoah South at greater scale.

“If we do that successfully, the opportunity for the Territory is significant.”

Darwin also gives the Beetaloo an important strategic advantage.

The Territory already has established LNG infrastructure and sits close to some of the world’s largest energy markets in Asia. Over time, greater Beetaloo production could support new Territory industries, additional domestic gas supply and potentially further LNG development.

But after years of discussion about what the Beetaloo could become, 1 September provided something much more tangible.

For the first time, political leaders, Native Title Holders, industry and business stood together at Shenandoah South and watched Beetaloo gas begin its journey towards the Territory market.

“The potential of the Beetaloo has been talked about for a long time,” Abbott said.

“First gas showed what is possible.

“Now our focus is on building from that milestone and making sure the Northern Territory shares in the jobs, investment and opportunities that come with it.” TQ