The Arafura Rare Earths Nolans Project has become the first project to be formally designated a Significant Project under the Territory Coordinator Act 2025, marking a major milestone in the Northern Territory’s approach to facilitating nationally significant investment.
The designation follows Arafura’s Final Investment Decision on the $1.6 billion project and recognises its profound economic significance to the Northern Territory and its strategic importance to Australia’s critical minerals sector. The Nolans Project is forecast to contribute $25.2 billion to the Territory economy over its initial 38-year life and will support more than 600 construction jobs and approximately 350 ongoing operational positions.
Located 135 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs, the project will be Australia’s first fully integrated ore-to-oxide rare earths operation, producing neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide used in permanent magnets for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy technologies, defence systems and electronics. The operation is expected to supply around five per cent of global NdPr demand while retaining up to 95 per cent of the rare earths value chain within Australia.
The Significant Project designation activates a suite of coordination powers under the Territory Coordinator Act, enabling a whole-of-government approach to support the project’s delivery. These powers allow the Territory Coordinator to coordinate statutory processes, request priority consideration of approvals and facilitate timely decision-making across government agencies where required.
Territory Coordinator Stuart Knowles said the designation reflects both the scale and complexity of the development and the role it will play in strengthening the Territory’s economy for decades to come.
The project’s integrated mining, chemical processing and rare earth separation operations make it one of the most significant resource developments ever undertaken in the Northern Territory and exactly the type of project the Act was designed to facilitate.
The project is expected to create significant opportunities for businesses across Central Australia and the broader Territory, with substantial demand for construction, logistics, engineering, maintenance and support services during both the construction and operational phases.
Arafura has committed to working closely with Territory suppliers and has structured procurement processes to maximise local participation throughout the life of the project.
The designation represents a significant milestone in the implementation of the Territory Coordinator Act 2025 and demonstrates the Territory’s commitment to supporting transformative projects that deliver lasting economic benefits, create jobs and strengthen the Northern Territory’s position as a leading destination for critical minerals investment.
Learn more about the designation PDF (1.7 MB).