TERRY Mills has made a last minute dash to WA in the hope of doing a deal to secure gas for Gove, as hundreds turn out in protest to demand action to save the town.
The Chief Minister will meet with GDF Suez and Santos in an effort to convince them of the need for additional gas supply.
Rio Tinto's subsidiary Pacific Aluminium has asked the Territory Government to provide 10 years worth of gas to ensure the ongoing viability of the company's Gove operations.
The gas would have to come from the reserves secured for the Territory's domestic supply, provided by Eni Australia.
This would reduce the lifespan of the Territory's domestic gas reserves by about six years - meaning the gas would run out in 2028 instead of 2034.
If the gas to Gove cannot be secured it is likely the town's alumina refinery will close.
Thousands of Gove residents have today held a rally in the town urging the Chief Minister to secure a deal.
In an open letter read to the residents, Mr Mills said the Government was willing to release the gas provided a replacement domestic gas supply is made available.
"Sufficient proven gas reserves exist at the Tern and Petrel fields (owned by GDF Suez and Santos) near the Blacktip field and Eni Australia has scheduled a drilling program for the Penguin Deep prospect which is only 40km from the Blacktip field," he said.
"If more gas is able to be made available, the NT Government will release gas for use in Gove." Pacific Aluminum chief executive Sandeep Biswas will tomorrow brief the Rio Tinto board in London on the situation.
Mr Mills said he had asked new Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh to extend the January 31 deadline for the final decision on the future of Gove.
"I am confident that if Rio Tinto is willing to continue to work together in good faith to ameliorate the risks to the Northern Territory, an aggregated gas supply solution can be found," he said.
