Australia’s Special Representative for the Greater Sunrise Project, Steve Bracks, is visiting Timor-Leste at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, to directly observe the implementation of integrated projects under the Tasi Mane initiative on the south coast of Timor-Leste. During his stay, he held meetings with the Prime Minister and the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, on July 17^th and 18^th, respectively, to discuss progress and collaboration in the development of the Sunrise and Troubadour natural gas and condensate fields, known as Greater Sunrise. 

The Greater Sunrise fields, located around 140 kilometres south of the Timor-Leste coast, were discovered in 1974. The consortium developing the Greater Sunrise fields (Sunrise Joint Venture) comprises TIMOR GAP, which holds 56.6 per cent, Woodside, which has a 33.44 per cent stake, and Osaka Gas Australia, which has a 10 per cent stake. A conceptual study led by Wood Australia began in April 2024 and will evaluate the best options for developing, processing and commercialising the gas. It should be completed by the end of 2024. The development of Greater Sunrise and the coming of the pipeline to the south coast of Timor-Leste is a national priority and extremely important for Timor-Leste’s future economic growth and development. 

In May, the Prime Minister appointed Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, to act as an interlocutor in discussions with Steve Bracks, Australia’s Special Representative for the development of Greater Sunrise. 

During the meeting with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, Steve Bracks emphasised that visiting the south coast was a great opportunity to observe the region’s development directly, praising Timor-Leste’s vision and efforts. He also reaffirmed the Australian Government’s commitment to continue collaborating closely with Timor-Leste after the release of the study’s results. 

At the meeting with the Vice Prime Minister, Steve Bracks briefed him on the results of his visit to the south coast, which he considered very positive. He also expressed his wish that following the project’s conceptual study results, Timor-Leste and Australia would meet again to evaluate the results and continue their collaboration. 

Steve Bracks’s visit to Timor-Leste was primarily to visit the south coast at the invitation of the Prime Minister. Accompanied by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, and the Executive Director of TIMOR GAP, Mr Bracks observed the progress of projects under development in the region.