Investment opportunities
The Northern Territory (NT) has a wide range of opportunities for investment in the minerals sector. The Territory is underexplored with diverse potential for a wide range of commodities, particularly gold, base metals, critical minerals and uranium. Substantial areas remain available for exploration tenure application and opportunities exist for exploration farm-ins and joint ventures with companies that hold exploration tenure.
A complete guide to the Northern Territory's defined mineral resources and geological potential is available to download in the NT Critical Minerals and Gold guide | Resourcing the Territory. The guide has also been fully translated in Indonesian, Japanese and Korean, and available to download.
The Territory’s strong pipeline of developing projects presents opportunities for equity investment, farm-ins, joint ventures or offtake agreements with companies that have projects that are approaching production. The Territory Government also welcomes proposals for downstream mineral processing or manufacturing in the Territory.
The NT offers a strategic location on Australia’s north coast and largely untapped resource potential, and presents a welcoming investment environment and access to key decision makers. For more information, go to the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations Australia's Northern Territory.
Geoscience data and advice
The NT Geological Survey (NTGS) provides geoscience and resource information to improve understanding of the geology and mineral potential of the NT. You can access a wide range of publications, maps and large amounts of data free online through the STRIKE and GEMIS. For information on specific commodities view the mineral commodities page.
For more information visit NT Government's Geoscience data and maps page. NTGS can also provide advice and support to assist you in accessing the data and information you need for exploration project generation and area selection in the Territory - contact NTGS by email geoscience.info@nt.gov.au or phone +61 8 8999 6443.
Applying for an exploration licence
To view the current mineral titles situation in the NT, go to STRIKE.
The Mining Development branch in the Department of Mines and Energy is responsible for regulation of mineral exploration, including applying for an exploration licence in the NT.
Read this handy guide for explorers Guide to mineral exploration in the Northern Territory.
For more information on mineral titles, contact the Mineral Titles group by email titles.info@nt.gov.au or phone +61 8 8999 5322.
Project facilitation services
For project facilitation services, particularly aimed at projects progressing through the approvals and development pipeline, contact the Mineral Project Facilitation and Development team by email mid.team@nt.gov.au.
Many of the companies with advanced exploration or mining development projects in the NT are seeking project investment, which may include equity investments, farm-in or joint venture arrangements, or project acquisition. NTGS actively promote opporutnities into the exploration and resource sector in the NT and can assist investors make connections into the NT sector.
NTGS produce the annual Critical Minerals and Gold guide in the Northern Territory as a flagship publication listing the known resource inventory and resource potential for minerals across the NT.
NTGS produce the Mining Developments Report in the NT which details companies with developing projects in the Territory, and the status of these projects, can be found on the developing projects page. Projects are also listed by commodity in the mineral commodities pages. Note that not all listed projects on these pages are necessarily seeking investment.
Information on current gas-sector projects and investment opportunities can be found on the Territory Gas Strategy website.
The Invest team, within the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations, work closely with NTGS to promote opportunities into the resources sector of the NT.
The Invest team partners with a range of local, national and international stakeholders to promote trade and investment opportunities with the Territory, including minerals investment opportunities. Their services include supporting and delivering campaigns, targeted engagement activities, events and inbound and outbound delegations.
The Invest team can provide information for potential investors including introduction to key government contacts and support with investment-related visits. It also supports companies looking to attract investment into their NT projects. The Invest team can also provide advice and support for companies looking at opportunities for downstream processing of minerals in the Territory.
For more information on the NT's investment environment and opportunities, go to the Australia's Northern Territory website or contact the Invest team by email investment@nt.gov.au or phone +61 8 8999 6020.