Timor-Leste and Australia make progress in finalising key instruments for the development of Greater Sunrise

DÍLI, 25 September 2026 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, met at the Government Palace in Dili with the Australian Government’s Special Envoy for the Greater Sunrise Project, Katrina Cooper, who provided an update on negotiations among Timor-Leste, Australia, and the Sunrise Joint Venture on the key legal and contractual instruments for the development of Greater Sunrise. The Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, also attended the meeting.

Following the meeting, Minister Francisco da Costa Monteiro explained that, during the most recent round of negotiations in Canberra, the parties had reached agreement at a technical level on three main documents: the Petroleum Mining Code (PMC), the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), and the Fiscal Regime.

“From this point onwards, we already have the main agreement,” stated Minister Francisco da Costa Monteiro.

The Petroleum Mining Code will establish the legal and regulatory framework for the exploration and development of petroleum resources in the Greater Sunrise Special Regime Area. The Production Sharing Contract will regulate the contractual relationship and the sharing of production between the State and the contracting parties, while the Fiscal Regime will define the taxation system and fiscal obligations applicable to activities carried out in this area.

With this phase of negotiations concluded, the three documents will now be submitted for internal approval. In Australia, they will follow the procedures established by the Australian Government. In Timor-Leste, they will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and subsequently to the National Parliament.

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources indicated that the evaluation and approval process is expected to take about three months. Following this stage, negotiations on the three main instruments will be concluded, while work continues on the operational documents required for the subsequent phases of the project.

“Clearly, there will still be many operational documents, but these will be prepared individually at a later stage. However, the main documents are now in the finalisation phase. Next year, we will focus more on the single development concept, which we have already approved, and move to detailed design, with a view to future construction”, stated Francisco da Costa Monteiro.

The Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia, and the Sunrise Joint Venture, continue negotiations and technical work necessary to prepare the instruments and subsequent stages of the Greater Sunrise development.

TATOLI