Woodside, Timor GAP’s partner in the Sunrise Joint Venture, has reaffirmed its open stance on development options for the Greater Sunrise gas project, located approximately 140 kilometres south of the Timor-Leste coast.

Meg O’Neill, Woodside’s CEO, quoted by the information platform specialising in the upstream oil and gas industry, acknowledged that the company “does not have a preferred concept” for Greater Sunrise. “We are open”, she added, emphasising that it is only necessary to “find out how best to move forward with the development, so the conceptual study work is ongoing”.

O’Neill also emphasised that “the concept study is to ensure that everyone involved – the joint venture companies, the Timorese Government and the Australian Government…. are all working from a common set of facts, and then we can use those common facts to underpin a decision on how best to develop this asset”. 

 Since April, the British company Wood has been leading an independent conceptual study for Greater Sunrise, intending to identify the most advantageous development solution for all parties involved. The study, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, evaluates engineering options, technology, financing and commercial structures and analyses fiscal, environmental, health and safety and socio-economic factors.

The development of Greater Sunrise and the connection of the pipeline to Timor-Leste’s south coast are national priorities essential for the country’s future economic growth and development. The Government will continue to evaluate the best strategies to develop the project, ensuring that it moves forward sustainably and brings significant benefits to the nation and the region.

 The Greater Sunrise joint venture comprises Timor GAP, which has a 56.6 per cent stake, Woodside, which has 33.44 per cent, and Osaka Gas Australia, which has 10 per cent.