The Department of Mines and Energy was established on 1 July 1978 - At the time of creation, the Department controlled the following functions:
 
- Orderly exploitation of Mineral and Oil
- Regulation of Mining and Exploration
- Mines Safety
- Explosives
- Energy Planning
- Machinery Inspection
- Construction Safety
and the following Ordinances:
 
- Coal Ordinance
- Construction Safety Ordinance
- Explosives Ordinance
- Inspection of Machinery Ordinance
- Minerals (Acquisition) Ordinance
- Mines Safety Control Ordinance
- Mines Regulation Ordinance
- Mining Ordinance
- Mining Assistance Ordinance
- Mining (Gove Peninsula Nabalco Agreement) Ordinance
- Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Ordinance
- Scaffolding Inspection Ordinance
 
(Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. 26C, 1 July 1978, pp. 506)  
The creation of the N.T. Department of Mines and Energy coincided with the transfer of the 'mining services and administration (excluding uranium)' function to the Northern Territory from the Commonwealth, where it had been administered by the Mines Branch [II] (CA 1942 of the Department of the Northern Territory [II].
 
The Mines Branch [II] had administered mineral exploration and mining in the the Northern Territory. Its activities has included the provision of assay and other technical services and the application of mining legislation (such as the Mining Ordinance, Mines Regulation Ordinance, Mining Assistance Ordinance, Minerals Acquisition
Ordinances, Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Ordinance, Mining (Gove Peninsula Nabalco Agreement) Ordinance). These functions passed to the N.T. Department of Mines and Energy.
 
Prior to 1 July 1978, responsibility for 'resources (including mining)' has been listed as a function of the N.T. Department of Resources and Health (CA 2670). As prior to July 1978 the Commonwealth administered mining, presumably the N.T Minister for Resources and Health was responsible for liaison with the Commonwealth on mining matters including the transfer of the function to the Northern Territory Government.
 
(Note- Responsibility for machinery and explosives inspection passed from the Mines Branch [II] to the Commercial and Industrial Affairs Branch of the Department of the Northern Territory [I] (CA 1448) in 1973. If responsibility for the function remained with the Branch until 1978, then it must have passed to the Department of Mines and Energy from the Commercial and Industrial Affairs Branch of the then Department of the Northern Territory [II] (CA 1958). Subject to further research.
 
According to the January 1979 Administrative Arrangement Order (Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. S2, 2 Jan. 1979, p. 7) the Department became responsible for 'geological survey'. (It is not known whether this is a function inherited from another agency or merely the upgrading of a function previously implicitly the
responsibility of Mines and Energy). It also acquired responsibility for legislation dealing with the Electricity Commission and Electrical Workers and Contractors from the Department of Transport and Works (CA 2667).
 
From July 1979, Northern Territory Administrative Arrangements Orders differentiated within each Ministry between legislation and principal areas of government dealt with by a statutory authority and those dealt with by a Department . Previously all legislation and areas of government, whether handled by a statutory authority responsible directly to the Minister or by the Minister's Department, had been listed under the Department.
 
The Northern Territory Electricity Commission (responsible for electricity generation and supply and the Electricity Commission Act and the Electrical Workers and Contractors Act) was listed under the Minister for Mines and Energy in the Administrative Arrangements Order of 2 July 1979 (Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. S8, 2 July 1979, p. 8).
 
Under the Order of 2 July 1979 the Department became responsible for Uranium Mining (Environment Control) legislation. (Research is needed to determine whether the legislation followed transfer of further powers from the Commonwealth or whether it was just new legislation.)  
In the July 1980 Administrative Arrangements Order the Department was credited with responsibility for the Radio-active Ores Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act (Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. S17, 1 July 1980, p. 11).
 
The 'Regulation of use of dangerous goods' (and its accompanying legislation) became the Department's responsibility by December 1980. (Administrative Arrangement Order in Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. S39, 2 Dec, 1980, p. 10).
 
The first appointment to the position of Minister for Mines and Energy was Mr L.L. Tuxworth, M.L.A. (Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. 26B, 30 June 1978. p. 1) who has previously been Cabinet Member for Resources and Health). Mr Tuxworth was also appointed Minister for Health (see CA. 2663) Department of Health. Mr Tuxworth was still Minister in June 1981 (Australian Financial Review, 18 June 1981, p. 1).
 
The first Secretary of the Department was Mr. V.T. O'Brien, ( Northern Territory Government Gazette, 1978. p. 16) who had previously been First Assistant Secretary of the Lands and Community Development Division of the Department of the Northern Territory [II] (CA 1958). Mr O'Brien retired in March 1980. He went on pre-retirement leave on 14 January 1980 an Mr Michael Purchell officially took up the position as Secretary of the Department on 17 March 1980. (Northern Territory News, 10 Jan. 1980, p. 1).
 

Historical agency address
1978-1980: Highway Arcade, Stuart Highway, Stuart Park NT
1980-    : Minerals House, Esplanade, Darwin NT