Snapshot of the Territory's resource industry
Resource statistics are compiled from Department of Mining and Energy, Treasury and Australia Bureau of Statistics. They highlight a thriving industry contributing significantly to the economy of the Northern Territory.
Contribution to NT economy
- Value of resources sector in the Territory: $8.4 billion1
- Gross State Product: 25%2
- Direct jobs: 3414
- Estimated royalties paid: $298 million
Minerals
- Value of Mineral Production: $4.36 billion
- Operating mines: 9
- Developing projects: 16
- Projected capex: $6 billion
- Projected construction jobs: 2950
- Projected operational jobs: 2450
- Mineral exploration expenditure: $130.7 million
- Mineral tenure:
- Exploration leases (EL) at 1 Jan 2026: 995 (down from 1034 on 1 Jan 2025)
- EL under application at 1 Jan 2026: 733
- EL applications received (2025): 130 (down from 185 in 2024)
- EL applications granted (2025): 92 (down from 96 in 2024)
Petroleum
- Onshore petroleum production: 12.57 Bcf Gas and 0.102 MMbbl Oil
- Petroleum Exploration expenditure: $447 million 3
- Onshore gas contingent resources: 6,903 Bcsf
- Petroleum tenure:
- Exploration permits (EP): 36
- Retention licences: 3
- Production licences: 5
- Pipeline licences: 29
Record of comparable figures
| Statistic | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value of resources sector (mining only) | $8.4 billion | $8.5 billion 4 ($10.2 billion) | $8.1 billion | $9.9 billion5 ($5.74 billion) | $9.01 billion5 ($5.1 billion) |
| GSP (mining only) | 25% | ~25% | 28% | 31%5 (22%) | 20% |
| Direct jobs (mining only) | 3414 | 4060 | 4093 | 3500 (Deloitte 2019-20) | 3070 |
| Royalties (budget papers estimate) | $298 million | $209 million | not released | $353 million | $344 million |
| Value of mineral production | $4.36 billion | $4.32 billion | $4.38 billion | $4.86 billion | $4.28 billion |
| Mineral exploration expenditure | $130.7 million | $228.6 million | $200.1 million | $171.5 million | $128.3 million |
| Onshore gas contingent resources | 6,903 Bcsf gas | not released | 6512 Bcsf gas | 8957 Bcsf gas | 7933 Bcsf gas |
Footnotes
1 Value of resources sector includes all mining and onshore and offshore petroleum activity. This figure has been adjusted for inflation and includes wages. This figure excludes manufacturing. Treasury refers to 'resources sector' as Mining only.
2 Mining only includes all mining, onshore and offshore petroleum activity. This figure excludes manufacturing.
3 Includes ABS date for first three quarts, March 2025 quarter not included in ABS.
4 Inflation adjusted
5 Rebase figures explained by ABS:
For further information, refer to Previous budget papers | Department of Treasury and Finance