DILI, 07 july 2023 (TATOLI) – The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong says Australia wants the development of the Greater Sunrise to happen as soon as possible.
Minister Wong expressed the commitment during her second visit as Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Timor-Leste where she met with the newly appointed Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta.
“We have only one ambition for Greater Sunrise, and that is to see it developed as soon as feasibly possible to support Timor-Leste’s development,” Wong said in a press conference at the Foreign Ministry office, in Dili, today.
She said Australia agreed with Prime Minister Gusmão that the Greater Sunrise Development project needs to be a feasible and economically sound solution, that creates a petroleum industry that can yield direct economic dividends for the Timorese people: “We would encourage the work to be done within the partners in Greater Sunrise for that to occur.”
“There is a new government in Timor-Leste and a new Australian Government. And a genuine, good-faith commitment to developing Greater Sunrise.”
Wong said Australia has been listening carefully to understand Timor-Leste’s ambitions for Greater Sunrise: “I can assure you that Timor-Leste’s commitment to onshore processing and the south coast Tasi Mane project is clearly understood.”
She stressed that technology is evolving, and the joint venture is looking afresh at the options: “That is why its study into the options for Greater Sunrise should go ahead as soon as possible.”
Wong pledged to continue working with the Government of Timor-Leste on the Greater Sunrise project to support the nation’s economic resilience and sovereignty.
The Sunrise project is operated by Joint Venture between TIMOR GAP (56.56%), Woodside Petroleum (33.44%), and Osaka Gas (10%).
The Sunrise field is estimated to contain 5.13 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas and 226 million barrels of condensate (oil), which could give Timor-Leste US$50 billion in revenues.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/07/07/penny-wong-expresses-australias-commitment-to-supporting-tls-economic-development/14/
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
