DILI, 09 March 2026 (TATOLI) — State-owned mining company Murak Rai Timor (MTR) is assessing international market demand for a newly discovered manganese resource in the municipality of Lautém, following exploration results that indicate the deposit could be of “world-class” quality.
MTR is conducting the exploration in partnership with Australian mining firm Estrella Resources across three exploration blocks in Lautém. Initial findings suggest the manganese reserves are estimated at around 30,000 tons.
According to José Gonçalves, chairman of MTR’s board of directors, the current phase of the project focuses on market evaluation, aimed at assessing the quality of the manganese and gathering feedback from potential buyers in international markets.
About 30,000 tons of manganese already extracted are being prepared for potential shipment to refineries or prospective buyers. The samples will help determine the mineral’s commercial value and market acceptance.
“We have manganese available and need to place it on the market to evaluate its quality and understand how buyers assess its price,” Gonçalves said. “Based on that information, we will be able to decide the next steps, including whether to proceed with pre-feasibility and feasibility studies before making a final decision on developing the project.”
He described the current stage as a crucial moment in the project’s development cycle, noting that drilling activities and technical studies have already confirmed the presence of the resource.
The next step, he said, will be to analyze the reaction of international markets to determine whether the project can advance toward large-scale commercial production. Such development would require significant investment in infrastructure, particularly in coastal areas, to facilitate the transportation and export of the ore.
“At the moment, we are focused on gaining a better understanding of the investment costs and the market valuation of our manganese internationally,” Gonçalves added.
He noted that India and China are among the countries showing interest in testing Timor-Leste’s manganese, although no export contracts have yet been finalized.
“It is possible that we will send samples to two or three different countries to obtain responses from several markets,” Gonçalves said. “Our plan is to carry out these shipments within this year, as we do not want the ore to remain in storage for too long.”
In 2024, Murak Rai Timor and Estrella Resources signed an agreement to conduct preliminary mineral exploration, focusing specifically on manganese resources in Lautém.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
