APA Group (ASX: APA) has received a pipeline permit (under section 5 of the Energy Pipelines Act 1981) from the Northern Territory Government (NTG) to commence surveying a potential corridor for the proposed North to East Australia (NEA) Pipeline.  

The proposed pipeline is in the early stages of development and has the potential to collect Beetaloo gas from multiple producers.  

The NEA Pipeline is intended to run from the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory to APA’s existing South West Queensland Pipeline, linking to APA’s east coast gas grid, and connecting to major Australian demand centres. The NEA Pipeline is intended to strengthen energy security for Australian businesses and households, delivering Beetaloo gas to Australia’s east coast to firm renewables and support Australia’s key manufacturing sectors.  

The NEA Pipeline would complement APA’s 37 km Sturt Plateau Pipeline (SPP), which is nearing construction completion, and will flow gas to Darwin from mid-2026. In September this year, APA received a pipeline licence from the NTG and an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Traditional Owners, facilitated by the Northern Land Council, for the SPP, an estimated ~$66.5 million project and the crucial first-stage link to enable Beetaloo gas to reach power generation assets in the Northern Territory.

APA CEO and Managing Director Adam Watson said the proposed NEA Pipeline is a potentially transformational project that will support energy security for households, businesses and industry on Australia’s east coast, as well as for our regional partners through Australia’s LNG export sector.  

“Beetaloo gas, delivered to southern markets via the NEA Pipeline, has the potential to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of Australian gas is available for the east coast, supporting Australian industry and households. Importantly, it will marry domestic gas supply with demand, and help avoid the need to import higher cost LNG from global markets to meet our domestic energy needs.  

“We know how critical gas is to our key manufacturing sectors and Beetaloo gas has the potential to support our industrial growth for decades to come.  

“APA will undertake a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process throughout the early works program and beyond. Meaningful community and Traditional Owner engagement is a key priority across all our projects and this project will be no different. 

“We take this opportunity to again acknowledge the NT Government’s commitment to Australia’s energy security and economic prosperity, by championing projects such as the Beetaloo Basin development and for ensuring policy can bring it to life.”