The trade mission is designed to build on the $1.6 billion Darwin liquefied natural gas project brought into production almost one year ago.

“The Government wants to expand the LNG facilities and move on to the next plant as soon as possible,” Martin said.

“I want to make the Territory the place to buy LNG and invest in gas industries, and the development of the emerging technology of gas-to-liquids.”

In particular, Martin said the NT Government was pushing to establish a downstream gas industries base in Darwin with new projects based on ammonia, methanol, olefins and their derivatives.

“These can be used to produce everything from explosives for mining, to the plastics used to make black polypipe and garden furniture,” she said.

While in Tokyo, Martin will meet with representatives from the Tokyo Electric Power, Tokyo Gas, the Dow Chemical Company and Inpex Holdings.

She will also hold talks with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on business opportunities in the NT and travel to Osaka to meet with officials from the Osaka Gas Company.