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Contents of this page History and background Sunrise advocates return to power; discussions continue LNG plant moved The Wood Study Links to related web resources	Contents of this page Istoria no introdusaun Gov IX kaer poder; diskusaun la'o nafatin Fábrika LNG muda Estudu Wood nian Ligasaun
The Greater Sunrise oil and gas field in the Timor Sea has been the subject of exploration, controversy, and negotiations since it was discovered in 1974. In particular, the question of where to liquefy the natural gas -- converting it into LNG which can be shipped to overseas customers -- has been vociferously debated since Indonesia was forced out of Timor-Leste in 1999.  La'o Hamutuk has followed the issue since 2000, publishing facts and analysis to advocate for Timor-Leste's national sovereignty and for policy decisions which advance the well-being of the people of Timor-Leste. This page discusses events from 2020 to the present; for earlier information see: Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste: Dreams, Realities and Challenges book (2008) including chronology of Sunrise developments 1970-2008 Greater Sunrise (2010-2015) Timor-Leste buys into the Sunrise Joint Venture (2015-2021)	Kampu mina no gás Greater Sunrise iha Tasi Timor mak sai hanesan sujeitu ba peskiza, polémika no negosiasaun dezde kedas bainhira deskobre iha 1974. Espesífiku liu ba iha kestaun kona-ba fatin ne'ebé atu halo likifikasaun ba gás naturál - hodi transforma gás ne'e ba LNG ne'ebé bele esporta ba konsumidór sira rai-li'ur– iha debate maka’as dezde Timor-Leste hasai Indonesia iha 1999. La'o Hamutuk tuir ona asuntu ne'e dezde tinan 2000, publika faktu no análize sira ba advokasia kona ba soberania nasionál Timor-Leste no desizaun polítika sira ne'ebé hakbiit moris di’ak ba povu Timor-Leste. Pájina ida-ne'e sei ko'alia kona-ba atividade sira husi tinan 2020 to'o agora; informasaun anterior bele haree: Livru Sunrise LNG Timor-Leste: Mehi, Realidade no Dezafiu sira (2008) inklui rezumu ezekutivu (Tetum) no istória (Ingles) kona ba dezenvolvimentu Sunrise 1970-2008 Greater Sunrise (Tetum, 2020-2011) no (2010-2015) Timor-Leste Sosa partisipasaun iha Konsórsiu Sunrise (Ingles, 2015-2021)
History and background In 2008, La'o Hamutuk published a book Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste: Dreams, Realities and Challenges, which is on-line in English and Bahasa Indonesia, with a summary in Tetum. The book includes a history of relevant events from 1970 through 2008. In 2008 we also published a primer on LNG Basics and an article on potential benefits from Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste. The Sunrise controversy is entangled in the troubled history of maritime boundary negotiations between Timor-Leste and Australia. Follow this link for information and documents on events from 2012 to 2016, or this one for developments in 2016-2020. The Sunrise project is operated by Woodside (Australia), which had a 33.44% share in the project shared with joint venture partners ConocoPhillips (USA, 30%), Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Netherlands, 26.56%) and Osaka Gas (Japan, 10%). In 2019, Timor-Leste's state-owned oil company TimorGAP borrowed $650 million from Timor-Leste's Petroleum Fund to buy out the shares of ConocoPhillips and Shell, becoming the majority (56.56%) owner of the Sunrise Joint Venture. Some doubt that the project will ever go ahead, and auditors for Woodside, TimorGAP and Timor-Leste's Central Bank have written down the value of the asset and the loan. Woodside estimates that the field contains 5.13 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas and 226 million barrels of condensate (liquids), which some analysts believe will sell for about $50 billion. After paying for capital investment, operating costs and company profit, this could generate revenue to Timor-Leste, although it is not yet clear that the benefits will be more than the costs, and no outside investors have come forward. For many years, Sunrise has been stalled because Timor-Leste’s government insists that its natural gas be piped to Timor-Leste, where it will be cooled until it becomes a liquid (Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG; see 2008 primer) that can be loaded onto tanker ships and sold to overseas customers.  However, the foreign Joint Venture companies believe that making LNG through a pipeline to Australia (Darwin LNG or DLNG) will be more profitable and less risky. All the partners, as well as the governments of Australia and Timor-Leste, need to agree on the development plan. The Maritime Boundary Treaty which came into force on 30 August 2019 establishes a Greater Sunrise Special Regime to govern the field's joint development. The 2003 Sunrise Production-Sharing Contracts (PSCs) will be replaced by new ones, although the negotiation process is still not concluded after more than six years. Timor-Leste’s government believes that spinoff jobs, contracts and local economic development on the Tasi Mane (south) coast will more than compensate for the higher costs and risks of bringing the gas there, but this view is not shared by Australia, Woodside, Osaka Gas or the UN Conciliation Commission that facilitated the Treaty. La’o Hamutuk and experts we have consulted are not convinced that the benefits to Timor-Leste are greater than the costs, and we have repeatedly asked the managers and promoters of the Sunrise project for the assumptions and data that make them so optimistic. In July 2020, Woodside devalued its portion of the Sunrise field by $170 million, which one writer saw as foreshadowing the end of the project, which another writer attributed to political changes in Dili.  TimorGAP devalued its share to zero at the end of 2020, although this was secret until October 2021, when the 2022 state budget was proposed. In 2022, as contract negotiations dragged on, a leaked report indicated that developing Sunrise with a pipeline to Timor-Leste may not be as unprofitable as previously thought (although La'o Hamutuk has been unable to check the report's reliability). Newly-elected President José Ramos-Horta mentioned that Timor-Leste might look to China if Australia continued to be uncooperative, stepped up diplomatic pressure on Australia to accept a pipeline to Beaçu, and Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak met virtually with Woodside's CEO. In October, Australia appointed Steve Bracks, a long-time associate of Xanana, as its Special Representative on the project. In December 2022, Woodside executives said they were open to considering a pipeline from Sunrise to Timor-Leste, although TimorGAP called Woodside a bully and President Ramos-Horta urged them to continue to consider the TLNG option. As electoral timetable neared, the Minister of Petroleum tried to reduce partisan tensions by involving Xanana Gusmão. Journalist Hamish McDonald put the Sunrise issue in context.   In January 2023, partisan politics re-emerged with accusations that the government had dropped the ball on Sunrise negotiations. However, on 6 February, a press release from the Sunrise Joint Venture, which received wide media coverage, announced that the JV would "undertake a concept selection process" for Sunrise, including "valuation of which option provides the most meaningful benefit for the people of Timor-Leste." Ramos-Horta recommended against making commitments, given that a new government would be elected soon, and Taur Matan Ruak embarked on his first trip to Australia since becoming Prime Minister five years ago.	Istoria no introdusaun Iha 2008, La’o Hamutuk publika livru ho títulu Sunrise LNG Timor-Leste: Mehi, Realidade no Dezafiu sira, ne’ebé iha mós versaun online iha lian Ingles no Bahasa Indonézia no halo sumáriu iha Tetum. Livru ne’e inklui istória no eventu relevante sira husi 1970 to’o 2008 (Ingles). Iha 2008 mós publika informasaun báziku kona-ba LNG no artigu kona ba benefísiu potensiál husi Sunrise LNG iha Timor-Leste. Kontroversu Sunrise nian tama iha istória komplikadu kona-ba negosiasaun fronteira marítima entre Timor-Leste no Austrália. Iha link ne’e, bele asesu ba informasaun no dokumentu kona-ba eventu sira husi 2012 to'o 2016, ka kona ba dezenvolvimentu sira iha 2016-2020. Projetu Sunrise ne'e opera husi Woodside (Austrália), ne'ebé iha partisipasaun 33.44% ba projetu ne’e uluk fahe parseiru Konsórsiu ho ConocoPhillips (USA, 30%), Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Olanda, 26.56%) no Osaka Gas (Japaun, 10%). Iha tinan 2019, Timor-Leste nia kompañia petróleu TimorGAP, E.P. empresta tokon $650 husi Timor-Leste nia Fundu Petrolíferu hodi sosa partisipasaun husi ConocoPhillips no Shell, hodi sai maioria (56.56%) na'in ba Konsórsiu Joint Venture) Sunrise. Ema balu iha dúvida katak projetu ne'e bele la'o ba oin, no auditór sira ba Woodside, TimorGAP no Banku Sentrál Timor-Leste hatún ona valór husi patrimóniu no empréstimu. Woodside estimatiza katak kampu ne'e iha gás naturál ne’ebé bele rekupera hamutuk m3 tokon 145,000 no kondensadu (líkidu) barríl hamutuk tokon 226, ne'ebé iha analiza balu fiar katak sei fa'an maizumenus dolar biliaun $50. Hafoin selu tiha ba investimentu kapitál, kustu operasionál no lukru kompañia nian, ida-ne'e bele hamosu reseita ba Timor-Leste, maski seidauk klaru katak benefísiu sira-ne'e sei boot liu fali kustu sira, no seidauk iha investidór ida. Durante tinan barak ona, Sunrise paradu tanba Governu Timor-Leste insiste katak gás naturál ne’e tenke suli ba Timor-Leste, iha ne'ebé sei sai malirin to'o sai hanesan líkidu (Gas Natural Liquefied ka LNG; hare pájina 12 iha Buletin LH nian) ne'ebé bele lori liu husi ró tanke no fa'an ba kliente sira iha rai-li'ur. Maski nune'e, kompañia estranjeiru sira iha Konsórsiu fiar katak halo LNG liu husi pipa ba Austrália (Darwin LNG ka DLNG) sei sai lukrativu liu no iha risku menus. Parseiru hotu-hotu, nune'e mós Governu Austrália no Timor-Leste, presiza konkorda kona-ba planu dezenvolvimentu. Tratadu Fronteira Maritima ne'ebé tama iha vigór iha loron 30 Agostu 2019 estabelese Rejime Espesiál Greater Sunrise nian ida atu regula dezenvolvimentu konjunta kampu nian. Kontratu ba fahe produsaun(KFP/PSC) sira ne'ebé halo ona iha tinan 2003 sei troka ho kontratu sira ne'ebé foun, maske prosesu negosiasaun seidauk remata liu tinan neen. Governu Timor-Leste fiar katak empregu diretu no indiretu, kontratu no dezenvolvimentu ekonómiku lokál iha (kosta súl) sei selu fali kustu no risku ne'ebé aas liu hodi lori gás ne’ebá , maibé Austrália, Woodside, Osaka Gas no Komisaun Konsiliasaun ONU nian ne'ebé fasilita la konkorda ho vizaun ne’e. La'o Hamutuk no peritu sira ne'ebé ami konsulta ona la fiar katak benefísiu sira ba Timor-Leste boot liu fali kustu sira, no ami husu beibeik ba ema sira ne’ebé jere no promove projetu Sunrise sira kona-ba asumsaun no dadus ne'ebé halo sira optimístiku tebes. Iha fulan Jullu 2020, Woodside hamenus valor ninia parte husi kampu Sunrise ba valór tokon $170, ne'ebé hakerek-na’in ida haree hanesan prevee projetu ne'e nia rohan, ne'ebé hakerek-na’in seluk observa ida ne’e haktuir ba mudansa polítika iha Dili. TimorGAP dezvaloriza nia parte ba zero iha tinan 2020 nia rohan, maski ida-ne'e segredu to’o fulan Outubru 2021, bainhira Governu proposta Orsamentu Estadu 2022 nian. Iha tinan 2022, bainhira negosiasaun kontratu nian la’o neineik, relatóriu ida ne’ebé hatudu katak dezenvolvimentu Sunrise ho pipeline ba Timor-Leste karik bele hetan lukru boot liu duké hanoin analiza uluk (maski La’o Hamutuk seidauk bele verifika relatóriu ne’e loos). Hafoin eleitu Prezidente José Ramos-Horta dehan katak Timor-Leste bele konsidera Xina bainhira Austrália kontinua la koopera, hasa'e presaun diplomátika ba Austrália hodi aseita pipeline ba Beaçu, no Primeiru-Ministru Taur Matan Ruak hasoru malu ho Woodside nia xefe. Iha fulan Outubru, Austrália nomeia Steve Bracks, assosiadu ba tempu naruk ho Xanana, nudár Austrália nia Reprezentante Espesiál ba projetu ne'e. Iha Dezembru 2022, ezekutivu Woodside sira hatete katak sira nakloke atu konsidera pipeline ida husi Sunrise ba Timor-Leste, maski TimorGAP konsidera Woodside hanesan hakdedar-na’in no Prezidente Ramos-Horta husu sira atu kontinua konsidera opsaun TLNG. Bainhira eleisaun besik ona, Ministru Petróleu koko atu redús konfrontasaun partidaria sira liu halo konsultasaun ho Xanana Gusmão. Jornalista Hamish McDonald halo asuntu Sunrise iha kontestu. Iha fulan Janeiru tinan 2023, polítika partidu nian hahú fila fali ho akuzasaun katak Governu VIII la sériu iha negosiasaun Sunrise. Maibé, iha loron 6 Fevreiru, komunikadu imprensa ida husi Konsórsiu Sunrise, ne'ebé simu kobertura husi média barak, anunsia katak konsórsiu sei "halo prosesu selesaun konseitu ida" ba Sunrise, inklui "avaliasaun ba opsaun ida-ne'ebé maximiza benefísiu ba povu Timor-Leste." Ramos-Horta rekomenda atu labele halo kompromisu, tanba Governu foun sei eleitu, no Taur Matan Ruak hahú nia viajen da uluk ba Austrália dezde sai Primeiru-Ministru tinan lima liubá.
Sunrise advocates return to power; discussions continue The IX government, headed by former Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, was elected in mid-2023 and promptly replaced the petroleum sector leadership; former TimorGAP President Francisco Monteiro is now Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources. They have accelerated discussions with Australia and Woodside. In May 2024, the Prime Minister appointed Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Agio Pereira to represent the Government in Sunrise discussions, which are ongoing (including with Australia and Inpex). Australian media continue to worry about China's possible role. Negotiations in July are described in press releases and news reports. In September and October 2024, President Ramos-Horta stepped up diplomatic pressure on Australia, while Woodside said it was open to all options.   In January 2025, ASEAN Briefing published an optimistic article on Greater Sunrise. In early February, Timor-Leste's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources visited Suai to reaffirm his Government's commitment to the project. Agio Pereira, the Government's point person for the issue, continued to meet with relevant entities, and President Ramos-Horta told Reuters that he favours Australia over Chinese firms for the project.  After Australian voters re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May 2025, Timor-Leste's UN Ambassador Dionisio Babo Soares wrote an op-ed asking if Albanese Can Deliver Timor-Leste’s Dream. In May 2025, Timor-Leste's Government appointed Avelino Maria Coelho da Silva and José Manuel Gonçalves to the Greater Sunrise Supervisory Board. Although TL officials remain publicly optimistic that the project will move ahead soon, Woodside sees it as "very complicated." In July 2025, talks continued with Australia, followed by a visit by a Woodside delegation. Ambassador Dionisio Babo shared his reflections on the dispute.	Gov IX kaer poder; diskusaun la'o nafatin Governu Da-IX, ne'ebé lidera husi eis-Primeiru-Ministru Xanana Gusmão, eleitu iha tinan 2023 nia klaran no troka kedas lideransa setór petróleu nian; eis-Prezidente TimorGAP Francisco Monteiro agora nu'udar Ministru Petróleu no Rekursu Mineral. Sira aselera kedas diskusaun ho Austrália no Woodside. Iha fulan Maiu tinan 2024, Primeiru-Ministru nomea Ministru Prezidensiá Konsellu Ministrus Agio Pereira atu reprezenta Governu iha diskusaun Sunrise, ne'ebé sei hala'o hela (inklui ho Austrália no Inpex). Média Austrália nian kontinua preokupa kona-ba papél posivel Xina nian. Negosiasaun iha fulan Jullu deskreve ona iha komunikadu imprensa no artigu iha média. Iha fulan Setembru no Outubru 2024, Prezidente Ramos-Horta aumenta presaun diplomátika ba Austrália, enkuantu Woodside dehan katak ida-ne'e nakloke ba opsaun hotu-hotu. Iha Janeiru 2025, ASEAN Briefing publika artigu optimístiku ida kona-ba Greater Sunrise. Iha inísiu Fevereiru, Ministru Petróleu no Rekursu Mineral Timor-Leste nian vizita Suai hodi afirma fali Governu nia kompromisu ba projetu ne'e. Agio Pereira, ema ida-ne'ebé haree asuntu ne'e husi Governu, kontinua hasoru malu ho entidade relevante sira, no Prezidente Ramos-Horta hateten ba Reuters katak nia konsidera liu empreza Austrália duké empreza Xina sira ba projetu ne'e. Hafoin Austrália re-eleitu fali Primeiru-Ministru Anthony Albanese iha Maiu 2025, Embaixadór ba Nasoins Unidas husi Timor-Leste Dionisio Babo Soares hakerek op-ed (opiniaun) hodi husu serake Albanese bele realiza Timor-Leste nia mehi. Iha Maiu 2025, Governu Timor-Leste nomeia Avelino Maria Coelho da Silva no José Manuel Gonçalves ba Konsellu Supervizaun Greater Sunrise. Maski lideransa TL sira kontinua otimista katak lakleur tan projetu ne'e sei la'o ba oin, maibé Woodside haree katak projetu ne'e "komplikadu tebes".
LNG plant moved In 2023, the incoming government reconfigured their concept for the Tasi Mane project, hoping to bring the Sunrise gas pipeline to Natarbora, Manufahi Municipality, shifting the site of the proposed LNG plant from Beaçu.  The Supply Base remains in Suai; the highway will go from there to Natarbora, shorter than the original plan to continue it to Beaçu. In July 2024, Minister Francisco Monteiro and Australian representative Steve Bracks visited Natarbora and future "petroleum city" Betano. In April 2025, Government conducted socialization meetings along the highway route. People in Maluru and Natarbora asked about the LNG plant.	Fábrika LNG muda Iha 2023, Governu tuir mai halo fila fali sira-nia konseitu ba projetu Tasi Mane, ho esperansa atu lori pipeline gás Sunrise nian ba Natarbora, Munisipiu Manufahi, hodi muda fatin ba proposta LNG nian husi Beaçu. Baze fornesimentu sei hela iha Suai; auto-estrada sei hahú husi ne'ebá ba Natarbora, badak liu fali kompara ho planu orijinál atu kontinua ba Beaçu. Iha Jullu 2024, Ministru Francisco Monteiro no reprezentante Austrália Steve Bracks halo vizita ba Natarbora no futuru “sidade petróleu” iha Betano. Iha fulan Abril tinan 2025, Governu hala'o soru-mutu sosializasaun iha komunidade sira besik auto-estrada planeadu. Ema balu iha Maluru no Natarbora husu kona-ba fábrika LNG.
The Wood Study The Joint Venture has agreed to conduct further studies, as described in a series of articles and the search for a contractor.  In April 2024, the companies announced that Wood Australia will conduct a Greater Sunrise Contract Study to be completed by the end of the year. Wood began working on their study in July, holding consultation with various stakeholders. After a meeting at FONGTIL, La'o Hamutuk wrote to Wood with some of our concerns.   Wood submitted its study in November 2024, although it has not been made public. Officials from Timor-Leste and Australia continued to meet, and their Prime Ministers issued a joint statement, followed by a TL government press release.  Energy Intelligence reported Australia Sweetens Sunrise Deal as LNG Concept Study Complete.  Although Timorese media wrote that the study concluded that the gas pipeline will come to Timor-Leste, others reported that Wood simply found that the TL option was technically feasible. Timor-Leste's Minister of Petroleum and Mining shared a presentation on Timor-Leste’s Analysis of Economic Outputs from the study.	Estudu Wood nian Konsórsiu konkorda ona atu kontinua halo estudu, hanesan deskreve ona iha artigu sira no konsórsiu buka kontraktor. Iha Abril 2024, kompañia sira fó sai katak Wood Australia sei hala'o estudu ba kontratu Greater Sunrise ne'ebé sei finaliza iha tinan ida-ne'e nia rohan. Wood komesa halo sira-nia estudu iha fulan Jullu, ho halo konsultasaun ho parte-interesada oioin. Hafoin enkontru iha FONGTIL, La'o Hamutuk hakerek karta ba Wood ho hato’o ami-nia preokupasaun balun. Wood submete ona estudu iha Novembru 2024, maski seidauk publika. Ofisiál sira husi Timor-Leste no Austrália kontinua hasoru malu, no Primeiru Ministru nasaun rua fó sai deklarasaun konjunta ida, haktuir ho komunikadu imprensa Governu TL nian. Energy Intelligence relata katak Australia Sweetens Sunrise Deal as LNG Concept Study Complete. Maski média Timor-Leste hakerek katak estudu ne'e konklui ona katak pipeline gás sei mai Timor-Leste, no seluk relata katak Wood konklui katak opsaun ba TL viavel téknikalmente. Timor-Leste nia Ministru Petróleu no Mineiru fó aprezentasaun kona-ba Timor-Leste’s Analysis of Economic Outputs husi estudu Wood nian.
With the end of gas extraction from Bayu-Undan in June 2025, Timor-Leste has no revenue from oil or gas. The savings in the Petroleum Fund (which finances 80% of the State budget, supporting the majority of GDP) could last until 2035; therefore the country faces a looming 'fiscal cliff.'  Although some smaller projects may provide a little extractive revenue, Greater Sunrise is the only verified reserve large enough to possibly generate as much money as Bayu-Undan did (for a few years). Unrealistic hopes for this future windfall distract public and leaders' attention from the hard work of building a productive, sustainable economy.	Ho hapara estrasaun gás husi Bayu-Undan iha Juñu 2025, Timor-Leste laiha reseita husi mina ka gás. Poupansa iha Fundu Petrolíferu (ne’ebé finansia 80% hosi orsamentu Estadu nian, hodi suporta maioria PIB) bele kontinua to'o tinan 2035, nasaun ne'e sei hasoru ameasa "rai naruk fiskál". Maski projetu ki'ik balun bele fó uitoan reseita estrativa, Greater Sunrise mak rezerva úniku ne'ebé boot no karik bele fornese osan boot hanesan Bayu-Undan (ba tinan balu). Esperansa ne'ebé la realistíku kona-ba sei hetan retornu barak bele habosok ukun-na’in sira no povu atu evita, harii ekonomia ne’ebé produtivu no sustentável.
Links For more information, see these relevant web pages: LH: 2026 State Budget; also 2025, 2024, 2023 LH: Greater Sunrise (2010-2015) LH: Timor-Leste buys into the Sunrise Joint Venture (2015-2021) LH: Maritime boundaries LH: Petroleum projects LH: Petroleum Fund LH: TimorGAP National Oil Company LH: Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste: Dreams, Realities and Challenges (2008) TimorGAP page on the Greater Sunrise project Woodside page on the Greater Sunrise project	Ligasaun Atu hetan informasaun tan, hare pajina tuir mai: LH: Orsamentu Estadu 2026, no mós 2025, 2024, 2023 LH: Greater Sunrise (2010-2015) LH: Timor-Leste hola partisipasaun iha konsórsiu Sunrise (2015-2021) LH: Fronteira maritima LH: Projeitu petrolifeira sira LH: Fundu Petrolifeiru LH: TimorGAP, E.P. LH: Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste: Dreams, Realities and Challenges (2008) TimorGAP nia pajina kona-ba projeitu Greater Sunrise Woodside nia pajina kona-ba projeitu Greater Sunrise