Henderson says his government is chasing major liquefied natural gas companies looking to develop projects in Australia.

Darwin is the only site in northern Australia that is "gas ready" and keen to do business, with proximity to countries to the north, China, India and Japan, according to Henderson.

"It's really the only site in the region that investors can come to tomorrow," he said.

"We have a one-stop-shop within the Chief Minister's Department of Major Projects that companies can deal with so they don't have the runaround of government agencies."

Henderson noted that Darwin LNG at Wickham Point already has approvals to increase its production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 10MMtpa and said the Territory is working to attract gas for this project as well as encourage the establishment of new LNG projects.

"We're talking very closely with Woodside and would like to see Sunrise brought onshore to Darwin, as well as chasing Inpex," he said.

Inpex is the developer of the Ichthys field, off the northwest coast of Western Australia. The Ichthys project has experienced difficulties and delays in securing WA approvals and Henderson is keen to see its gas piped to Darwin for processing.

"Ichthys has just been re-evaluated to have 500 million barrels of condensate along with 13 trillion cubic feet of gas, so getting these types of [processing] projects to Darwin is very important to my government," he said.

"As well as the capital investment and the ongoing jobs that the Wickham Point LNG project has created, it really sparks significant confidence in the NT and Darwin economy, and has led to investment in a number of other economic sectors.

"So, as well as a direct benefit, it also generates confidence for other sectors to invest in. That's why we're going after our second LNG plant as hard as we can."

He also hopes that growth in Darwin's LNG sector could trigger further development of other downstream gas industries in the Territory.

The Darwin LNG vent stream is providing feedstock for a helium plant being built by BOC Limited, a subsidiary of the Linde Group, that is due to start production in late 2009.

The NT Government has previously said other possibilities for downstream gas developments include gas-to-liquids diesel, ammonia and olefins and methanol.

Junior explorer MEO Australia is planning to develop its Blackwood gas discovery in NT waters for methanol.

Henderson will open SEAAOC 2008 with an address outlining his government's vision for Darwin as an oil and gas service and supply industry hub.

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