The National Petroleum Authority of Timor-Leste (ANP), in collaboration with the Australian Government through the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste, organised a conference titled “Timor-Leste Australia Energy Partnership: Enhancing Research and Innovation through Knowledge Sharing.” The event took place on 24th July 2024 at the Auditorium of the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) and featured experts from Australian universities and students from the Petroleum Geology Department of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology (FECT) at UNTL. 

This conference, held under the Timor-Leste Australia Energy Partnership’s Research Institute Strengthening Programme, aimed at knowledge sharing, benefiting not only Timor-Leste’s energy sector but also promoting mutual growth and workforce capacity development. The event included a series of lectures focusing on topics such as transition energy, petroleum, geology, social licensing, and geothermal technology. 

In addition to the lectures, the Australian academics participated in cultural visits to places such as Cristo Rei, Santa Cruz Cemetery, the Chega! National Centre, the Timor-Leste Resistance Archive and Museum, and the Tais Market. These activities provided an opportunity to explore Timor-Leste’s culture and heritage, strengthening relations with their Timorese counterparts. 

The Timor-Leste Australia Energy Partnership is a joint initiative of Timor-Leste’s ANP and Australia’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources, aimed at promoting collaborative research initiatives between institutions from both countries, driving innovation and economic growth in the region. Through this partnership, the programme seeks to address key challenges faced by the energy sector, producing a series of research reports related to energy and resources.