Oil and Gas Industries will help Build Our Future

Willem Westra Van Holthe MLA
Minister for Mines and Energy

Minister for Mines and Energy, Willem Westra van Holthe, has spoken this week in Parliament about the future of the Territory’s oil and gas Industries.

Mr Westra van Holthe says oil and gas have the potential to transform the Northern Territory, in to the future.

“With Inpex underway, we’re already seeing what the oil and gas can do for jobs prosperity and future economic growth,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.

“As well as offshore there is huge potential for oil and gas developments onshore.”

Mr Westra van Holthe said there have recently been a number of concerns expressed about horizontal fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking.

“The Northern Territory is fortunate that our geological makeup presents us with a much safer platform for oil and gas extraction,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.

“In the Territory, the water table is generally within 200 metres of the surface, whereas the areas of interest for shale oil gas are at a depth of around 1000 to 2000 metres.

“This, along with a host of environmental regulations, markedly reduces any potential interaction between drilling/extraction and our important ground water reserves.

“Our Government will not allow fracking for oil and gas if we believe there is any significant risk to the environment that cannot be mitigated through robust regulation and monitoring.

“The oil and gas industries will open up the Territory’s potential, particularly in our remote areas. This will assist us in building tomorrow’s great Northern Territory.”

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

View All »