Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão met with Australia’s Special Representative for the Greater Sunrise Project, Steve Bracks, at the Government Palace in Dili on November 21st, 2024. Agio Pereira, the Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Timor-Leste’s Interlocutor for the Greater Sunrise Project, and Francisco da Costa Monteiro, the Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, also attended the meeting. 

The purpose of the meeting was to analyse the current state of the project and promote dialogue on the next steps following the delivery of the conceptual study prepared by Wood Australia to the consortium developing the Greater Sunrise fields (Sunrise Joint Venture), made up of TIMOR GAP (56.6%), Woodside (33.44%) and Osaka Gas Australia (10%). The conceptual study identifies the best options for developing, processing and commercialising the gas extracted from Greater Sunrise, a strategic project for Timor-Leste, which is considered essential for the country’s sustainable economic growth. 

During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to maximise the project’s benefits for both nations. They focused on implementing an infrastructure that ensures gas transport to the south coast of Timor-Leste, a national priority that significantly impacts the country’s economic and social development.

After the meeting, Steve Bracks told reporters that it had been “a very good meeting”, “to address the Greater Sunrise gas field and make sure we’re in a position to get this project up”.

Steve Bracks emphasised the importance of Wood’s conceptual study, which is still “obviously commercial in confidence”, “but that’s an important next step, having received that report to getting this project up and getting support for it”. 

Australia’s Special Representative reinforced the Australian Government’s commitment to supporting the project, stating, “as said to the Prime Minister today, Australia stands ready, our government stands ready to assist and support in getting this project up”.

The conclusion of the conceptual study and the continuation of negotiations between Timor-Leste and Australia represents an important step in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries for the development of Greater Sunrise, with a focus on sustainable development and economic progress for both countries.