Timor-Leste to ship 27,000 tons of manganese overseas
DILI, 11 November 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste is preparing to transport about 27,000 tonnes of manganese from Lautém municipality to international markets for quality assessment and commercial testing, as the country explores opportunities to develop its mineral resources.
The National Minerals Authority (ANM) is coordinating with several government ministries to establish the infrastructure required for the shipment, including the construction of a small wharf in Lautém to facilitate the loading and transportation of the mineral.
Rafael de Araújo, president of the National Minerals Authority (ANM), said the planned export would follow geological surveys carried out by state-owned mining company Murak Rai Timor (MRT) alongside Australian firm Estrella Resources.
“One of the main requirements is a small wharf to allow ships to dock in Lautém and transport around 27,000 tonnes of manganese for testing in the international market,” Araújo told reporters.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony to award mineral resource prospecting and exploration licences at the GMN multipurpose hall in Dili on Tuesday.
Araújo said ANM was in discussions with the relevant ministries to ensure the necessary infrastructure and logistical arrangements were completed before the shipment could proceed.
He said the authority would provide further information once preparations were finalised and the necessary conditions were in place to begin loading the manganese. He also offered to facilitate media access to observe the operation.
The planned shipment follows exploration activities carried out in March by MRT and Estrella Resources, which involved extracting approximately 30,000 tonnes of manganese from three exploration blocks in Lautém municipality.
Exploration findings have described the manganese deposits as being of “world-class” quality, raising expectations about the potential of the mineral resource.
The proposed export of 27,000 tonnes is expected to provide an opportunity to assess the mineral’s quality under international market standards and determine its commercial viability and acceptance among potential buyers.
The results could help inform future decisions on the development and commercial exploitation of Timor-Leste’s manganese resources.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Julia Chatarina
Translation: Filomeno Martins
