Timor Gap president Antonio de Sousa told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) that Timor-Leste offered an attractive project planning and environmental approval process compared with the escalating difficulties in Australia, that helped his team’s negotiations with Woodside Energy.

“This is something that is very important to consider,” Sousa told the AFR. said.

He also emphasised the study would examine the “socio-economic” benefits to Timor-Leste’s people from piping the gas there, as well as the geopolitical “stability” it could offer the region, according to a Timor-Gap statement.

“This path forward is a significant commitment to our stakeholders, to the aspirations of those who made sacrifices to achieve independence for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and to the future of our people and Timor-Leste. It offers a clearer path to prosperity, equality, peace, stability, and sustainability for current and future generations,” he said. 

Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill said the development of new technologies and growing demand for safe and reliable LNG meant it was the right time to bring forward the concept select program. 

“It is important we continue to look at ways to develop the Greater Sunrise fields using the latest technologies by evaluating, for example, modular LNG, that did not exist in the past. Against a backdrop of global geopolitical instability and constrained energy supply chains, there is an opportunity for the Sunrise Joint Venture to significantly advance this regionally important project,” O’Neill said in Timor-Gap’s statement. 

Osaka Gas Australia Managing Director Yo Otsuka said it was important to assess and compare the development concept from both technical and commercial points of view to select the best option for the success of the Sunrise project. 

Sousa said the Sunrise Joint Venture would consider all of the key issues for delivering the gas, for processing and LNG sales, to Timor-Leste compared to delivering the gas to Australia.

The Sunrise development is located around 150 kilometres south of Timor-Leste. Officials estimate the field contains around 5.3 trillion cubic feet of dry gas and 226 million barrels of condensate.