The pipeline stretches 622km from Mount Isa to Tennant Creek, and a maintenance crew is ensuring the pipeline will continue to deliver gas to homes, businesses and communities across Northern Australia.

The NGP transports gas which underpins hundreds of manufacturing jobs in north-west Queensland and also provides a fuel-stock for electricity generation in the region, helping to keep the lights on for more than 20,000 homes and businesses in Mount Isa, Cloncurry and nearby communities.

Jemena's Executive General Manager of Gas Markets, Antoon Boey, said around 120 people will arrive in the Barkly region as part of the maintenance program.

"In keeping with our Locals First Policy, over 85 per cent of people working on the pipeline will be drawn from the Northern Territory and Queensland, with 17 specialists coming from other parts of the country, including Victoria," Mr Boey said.

Mr Boey said Jemena had used guidelines developed by the Northern Territory Government to develop its COVID-19 Management Plan.

As part of Jemena's COVID-19 Management Plan, all interstate personnel will complete a COVID-19 test prior to travelling into the Northern Territory.

"Our chief priority has and always will be to protect the health and well-being of the Tennant Creek community," Mr Boey said.

"In addition to self-isolating while in the Northern Territory, we have taken steps to further ensure interstate personnel do not come into contact with members of the local community.

"To do this we have secured private transportation into and around the Territory. We have also ensured interstate personnel remain separated from local employees at the Phillip Creek Compressor Station.

"We have also briefed relevant local authorities, including Northern Territory Police in Tennant Creek, about our maintenance program."

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