DILI, 14 March 2025 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, met with a Spanish delegation led by Ambassador Francisco de Asís Aguilera Aranda, Luis Fonseca Sánchez, Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Ana Andrés Hernández, Deputy Director General for Pacific Southeast Asia and the Philippines, to explore potential collaborations in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Minister Monteiro welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for Spain’s interest in Timor-Leste’s development initiatives.
Minister Moneiro provided an overview of the nation’s reliance on petroleum revenues from fields such as Bayu-Undan and Kitan over the past two decades and emphasized the government’s strategic focus on developing downstream industries. This includes refining and petrochemical projects under the Tasi Mane Project, a comprehensive initiative encompassing port facilities and highways designed to attract foreign investments in these sectors.
The Minister highlighted the significant potential of the Greater Sunrise gas field, noting its capacity to transform Timor-Leste’s economic landscape, and also mentioned other promising fields, including Bayu-Undan, Kelp Deep, and Chuditch, thus highlighting the government’s commitment to processing these resources in Timor-Leste to maximize economic benefits.
During the meeting, Minister Monteiro referred to the independent study conducted by Wood Group, which assessed multiple development pathways for the Greater Sunrise gas field, including Timor-Leste LNG (TLNG), Darwin LNG, Ichthys LNG, and a new LNG facility in Australia. “While all options were deemed technically feasible, the study identified TLNG as the most attractive solution, offering the greatest economic value for both States and the Sunrise Joint Venture partnersThe Minister emphasized that TLNG presents the best opportunity to maximize benefits for the country, ensuring higher returns, local job creation, and broader economic growth.”
In response, Ambassador Aguilera, Fonseca Sánchez, and Hernández conveyed Spain’s readiness to support Timor-Leste as a development partner.
“They highlighted Spain’s capabilities in engineering, construction, and investment, expressing interest in participating in upcoming projects. The delegation also indicated Spain’s willingness to provide financial and technological support, leveraging their experience to contribute effectively to Timor-Leste’s development goals,” said in a statement.
The statement added that both parties agreed to maintain open channels of communication to facilitate the engagement of Spanish companies in Timor-Leste’s energy and infrastructure projects.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to explore concrete opportunities for collaboration, aiming to foster sustainable economic growth and strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
