DILI, 07 december 2022 (TATOLI)—The President of the Republican, José Ramos Horta says Chief Executive Officer of Woodside Energy, Meg O’Neill made no blunder on Timor-Leste’s greenfield Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
“Meg O’Neill stated well-known facts. First, it has long been known that it is technically feasable to bring a pipeline from Timor Sea to Timor-Leste. Second, O’Neil showed greater management wisdom than her predecessors by stating that the Timor-Leste option should be put on the table even if there are concerns about costs. These concerns can be discussed and resolved,” Horta said in a statement.
He said there’s strong national consensus in TL that a pipeline from Greater Sunrise to TL is the best option from commercial perspective and for the long term sustainable development of TIMOR-LESTE. A solid national consensus prevails across all political spectrum and Timorese society that much greater advantages will be impact TL economic future with an onshore LNG facility. There is no deviation in Timor-Leste from this long standing view as there has not beeing any honest, credible, verifiable alternative option.
Horta stressed that the main argument so far in support of the pipeline going to Darwin, 500 kms away, has been that there are already NLG infrastructures in place in Northern Territory: “These were built at extremely exorbitant Australian labor and tax costs to benefit Australia and its Joint Venture partners. Timor-Leste should not be made to pay for existing mammoth LNG facilities in Darwin owned by others.”
“The report that prominent Timorese leaders are having second thoughts on the development of Greater Sunrise is ill informed, a dishonest misinformation planted by Australian side. The difference between us and Australian leaders is that we have explored, studied, alternative options,” he said.
Horta emphasized that the Australian side, both Government and the Joint Venture, have simply brushed aside the weaker partner legitimate, well-argued case: “Based on what would we reconsider our preferred option? No better options have been presented. Experience with Bayu Undan and ConocoPhillips has been a very bitter one. Timorese workers participation was irrisory, token, insulting. Australian workers flying from Darwin to Dili on the way to Bayu Undan walked pass immigration and health controls as if Timor-Leste was an Australian enclave.”
“We still believe that PM Albanese Government is serious about being different, committed to Timor-Leste long term prosperity and stability. Let’s see it with strong support to the development of Greater Sunrise on Timor-Leste’s shore,” the Head of State concluded.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges
