The ACCC said it had approved a 10-year rather than a five-year access arrangement period which its says demonstrates the flexibility of the Gas Code in meeting the circumstances of pipeline owners. The access arrangement expires on 1 July, 2011.

"The ACCC's benchmark tariffs for third party access have been set to provide an incentive for NT Gas to grow and develop its business and provide NT Gas with an opportunity to earn extra revenue," the competition watchdog said in a statement to the media.

"The terms and conditions are set out in NT Gas' revised access arrangement and related access arrangement information, including the tariffs third parties should pay for the transportation of gas via the ABDP."

The ACCC did say it had some concerns with the access arrangement as originally submitted by NT Gas and required it to make revisions before final approval could be given.

Earlier this year, NT Gas submitted a revised access arrangement that complied with the ACCC's requirements for final approval.