DILI, 24 November 2025 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão on Monday opened the 5th Timor-Leste Energy, Mining and Business Forum, a three-day gathering aimed at promoting investment opportunities in the country’s growing energy and mineral resources sectors.
The forum, held from 24 to 26 November in Dili, is organized by the Government through the National Petroleum Authority (ANP) and the National Minerals Authority (ANM) in partnership with The Energy Circle and IN-VR.
The event brings together policymakers, regulators, investors, and representatives from national and international companies to assess development prospects and strengthen cooperation in the industry.
In his opening remarks, Gusmão said the annual forum has become Timor-Leste’s key platform for exchanging perspectives on the progress of the energy and mining sectors.
He highlighted the country’s transformation over the past two decades into a peaceful and democratic state with an open society and a steadily expanding economy centered on sustainable development.
The Prime Minister also underscored Timor-Leste’s recent accession to the World Trade Organization and the completion of its process for full ASEAN membership.
He said these achievements enhance the country’s economic credibility and reinforce its strategic position in the region.
“ASEAN membership places Timor-Leste in a strategic position to become an important energy and mining hub in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Gusmão reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030, which identifies energy, minerals, tourism, and agriculture as priority sectors for job creation and economic diversification.
He said the Tasi Mane Project remains a central pillar of industrializing the south coast and includes the Suai Supply Base, the Natarbora industrial hub, LNG and helium facilities, a refinery, a maritime terminal, the Betano power plant, and key road and urban infrastructure.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Greater Sunrise gas field continues to be the cornerstone of Timor-Leste’s energy and industrial development strategy.
“The Government’s position on Greater Sunrise has always been clear. Gas from Greater Sunrise must be processed onshore in Timor-Leste,” he stated.
He said independent assessments have confirmed the feasibility of a subsea pipeline to the south coast and argued that onshore processing is vital to retain economic value, enhance energy security, support industrial growth, and create thousands of jobs for young people.
Gusmão added that the development of Greater Sunrise and the expansion of the mining sector are essential to building a strong and sustainable national economy.
“The Timorese people suffered greatly for their self-determination. Now we face the challenge of building an economy capable of guaranteeing our people’s well-being,” he said, urging investors and international partners to support new partnerships and increase productive investment.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing interest in minerals such as gold, copper, and magnesium, which he said could drive economic diversification and create jobs in rural areas.
He stressed that the country’s regulatory environment and legal framework offer clarity and predictability for investors entering the sector.
ANP President Gualdino do Carmo da Silva said the forum reflects sustained promotional efforts that have generated increasing interest from global petroleum and mining companies.
He noted that investors value Timor-Leste’s resource potential, stable legal environment, and governance based on transparency and regulatory consistency.
During the opening session, attended by senior government officials and industry leaders, the Government officially launched the 2025 public mining tender for exploration and research licenses covering metallic and non-metallic minerals.
More than 400 delegates from around 70 countries are participating in this year’s forum.
The program includes sessions on mining investment, the development of Greater Sunrise, ongoing oil and gas projects, and the energy transition.
The forum aims to deepen dialogue, identify new areas of cooperation, and support the country’s economic transformation in line with the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and the program of the IX Constitutional Government.
TATOLI
