DILI, 21 november 2024 (TATOLI)-The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, met today, 21 november 2024, with the Australian Special Representative for the Greater Sunrise Project, Steve Bracks, at the Government Palace in Dili.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Timor-Leste’s Interlocutor for the Greater Sunrise Project, Agio Pereira, and the Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro.
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 commercializing the gas extracted from Greater Sunrise, a strategic project for Timor-Leste, considered essential for the country’s sustainable economic growth.
During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to maximize the benefits of the project for both nations, with a focus on implementing an infrastructure to ensure the transport of gas to the south coast of Timor-Leste, a national priority with a significant impact on the country’s economic and social development.
After the meeting, Steve Bracks told reporters that it had been ‘a very good meeting’, ‘to move the Greater Sunrise gas field forward and to ensure that we are in a position to get this project up and running.’
Steve Bracks emphasized the importance of the conceptual study conducted by Wood, which is still “obviously commercially confidential but which is an important step in moving this project forward and getting support for its realization”.
The Australian Special Representative reinforced the Australian government’s commitment to supporting the project, stating that ‘as I told the Prime Minister today, Australia is ready, our government is ready to help and support the realization of this project.’
The conclusion of the conceptual study and the continuation of negotiations between Timor-Leste and Australia represent 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.
TATOLI
