Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão reiterated the benefits at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Woodside Meg O’Neil in Melbourne, Gusmão told reporters , two partners with main ownership stake in Greater Sunrise Joint Venture, within hours of returning to Dili from Australia.

Timor-Leste and Woodside announced in November 2023 approval to kick off work on a concept study for the development of the Greater Sunrise fields. That is also a prerequisite for Woodside to determine the financial viability of delivering and processing the gas in Timor-Leste compared to delivering it to Australia.

“We do not expect that the issue will be solved immediately,” Gusmao told reporters, adding that further “extensive discussions” with Woodside was needed to progress the stand-off.

Gusmão did not provide any additional information.

Woodside operates the Greater Sunrise Gas Field located about 150 kilometres from Timor-Leste and 450 kilometres from Darwin, Australia.

Woodside previously said it preferred the option of sending gas from Sunrise to Darwin as there are two existing LNG plants in the region.

However, O’Neill announced in November last year that Woodside was willing to consider sending the gas to a new LNG plant in Timor-Leste.

At the time, Woodside and the government of Timor-Leste said the Greater Sunrise concept study should be finalised later this year.

Prime Minister Gusmão was in Melbourne to take part in the special summit between Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, which took place early last week.