Beetaloo gas set to flow to help power territory

First gas from controversial Beetaloo Basin fracking projects in Australia's north is set to flow to homes and businesses in a territory touting its vast energy supply potential.

The basin is a major onshore shale gas resource in the Northern Territory's Sturt Plateau, about 500km southeast of Darwin.

On Tuesday, first gas is set to flow from US company Tamboran's Shenandoah South development, with more than 40 terajoules a day going into the territory's gas grid.

The territory uses about 60 terajoules a day of gas at peak levels for power generation and mines.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Energy Minister Gerard Maley will be at the Shenandoah South development on Tuesday when the gas is turned on.

Their Country Liberal Party government has been an enthusiastic supporter and promoter of resource and energy projects in the territory.

Ms Finocchiaro said Beetaloo gas would secure the future for generations of Territorians by driving new investment, providing energy security, creating jobs and growing the economy.

"Every time Territorians flick on a light switch, or pull a cold beer from the fridge, they'll see the benefits of the Beetaloo Basin at work," she said in a statement.

The commencement of Beetaloo Basin gas production positioned the NT at the forefront of Australia's energy security, the chief minister said.

Onshore gas reserves containing an estimated 430 trillion cubic feet of gas in place were enough to meet Australian gas demand for 200 years, Mr Maley said.

"Since coming to office, our government has made unlocking the Beetaloo and getting it into production a key economic priority," he said.

"We needed to create the right conditions for companies to invest, develop projects and bring that gas to market."

Mr Maley has called on the federal government to exempt the NT from a gas reservation scheme and instead subsidise a 1500km pipeline to connect fracking to export ports in Gladstone, Queensland.

But Beetaloo fracking, construction of pipelines to get the gas to market, and using the gas to power AI data centres have all been vigorously opposed by environmental groups.