Dili, Jan. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Australia's envoy to Greater Sunrise, Katrina Cooper, paid a working visit to Timor-Leste for bilateral discussions on the development of that gas field, located in the Timor Sea, the Timor-Leste government said on Friday.
In a press release, the Timorese government noted that Katrina Cooper met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and Minister of Cabinet Affairs Agio Pereira, who is also a spokesperson on the Greater Sunrise discussions.
"The meetings allowed for an exchange of views on the state of the discussions and ongoing cooperation, as well as the reaffirmation of the common commitment to advancing the project through constructive dialogue, mutual respect and partnership, with a view to maximising its benefits," the statement said.
According to the government, during the meetings, "the strategic relevance of the project" for the development of Timor-Leste was also mentioned, including the importance of implementing the option of connecting the gas pipeline to Timorese territory.
The Australian envoy reiterated her government's commitment to working closely with the government of Timor-Leste, the project consortium partners and other relevant parties to ensure the continuity of discussions," the executive said.
During her visit, Katrina Cooper also met with Timorese President José Ramos-Horta, Foreign Minister Bendito Freitas, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Francisco Monteiro.
Located 150 kilometres from Timor-Leste and 450 kilometres from Darwin, the Greater Sunrise project has been mired in a stalemate, with Dili advocating the construction of a gas pipeline south of the country and Woodside, the consortium's second-largest partner, leaning towards connecting to the existing facility in Darwin.
The consortium consists of Timor Gap (56.56%), operator Woodside Energy (33.44%) and Osaca Gas (10%).
The impasse led the joint venture to commission a conceptual study by British company Wood, which confirmed the feasibility of developing Greater Sunrise in Timor-Leste.
The Timor-Leste Liquefied Natural Gas (TLNG) option stands out for its lower operating costs and, by allowing better overall direct and indirect returns for Timor-Leste, will have a major socio-economic impact on the country," says the Timorese government.
The permanent maritime border agreement between Timor-Leste and Australia stipulates that Greater Sunrise, a shared resource, will be divided, with 70% of the revenues going to Timor-Leste if a gas pipeline to the country is built, or 80% if processing takes place in Darwin.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Timor-Leste on 28 January.
MSE/ADB // ADB.
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