Santos has been working in the Northern Territory for decades, and I’m proud of the relationships and ties we’ve built with communities, stakeholders and governments over that time. But what’s coming next, particularly in the Beetaloo sub-basin, represents something genuinely new. A generational opportunity.

The Beetaloo is a potential game changer for our country, the Territory and for Santos. If fully developed, it could unlock the kind of transformational economic impact that the North West Shelf delivered for Western Australia 40 years ago. The scale of this opportunity is real, and it is significant.

Over the next 12 months, Santos will drill three appraisal wells in the Beetaloo. While these are test wells, the wells have been designed to maximise potential resource recovery in the same way as we would do for a full-scale development.

For pastoralists and cattlemen in the region, I want to be direct about what responsible development means to us. Water monitoring is non-negotiable. Land access negotiations must be conducted with transparency and mutual respect. And the economic benefits must flow to Territorians and Territory businesses.

The economic case is strong. Local jobs, Territory businesses, government royalties reinvested in roads and other infrastructure. The Beetaloo development has the potential to deliver real, lasting benefits for communities across the Northern Territory.

Economic modelling forecasts potential annual royalty earnings to the NT Government in excess of $220 million, based on 1,000 terajoules of production per day, with between 200 and 500 workers on site daily across the Beetaloo. Local jobs, contracting opportunities, regional roads, schools, hospitals — this is what Beetaloo development could fund.

Partnering with landholders is something Santos has done for over 70 years. We know how to work alongside pastoral operations and Traditional Owner groups respectfully, and we bring that same commitment to the Beetaloo.

The future of the Beetaloo will be shaped by the people who know this country best – the cattlemen, Traditional Owners, and Territory communities. We intend to build it together.

If you’d like to learn more about our operations in the NT, drop into the Santos Shopfront at the Smith Street Mall or call 1800 761 113 for a chat with our friendly team.