Australia, Timor Urge Progress on Greater Sunrise Gas Field

In the capital Dili, Australian Prime Minister ‌Anthony ​Albanese and his East Timor ‌counterpart, Xanana Gusmao, on Wednesday said the Greater Sunrise gas project ​should be developed as soon as possible, with Australia pledging a third of its state revenue to ‍its small neighbor.

After decades of delays, Australia's ​Woodside ‌Energy and East Timor agreed ‍in December to study a 5 million metric ton project for the Greater Sunrise fields, an area containing an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Australia said it will establish an infrastructure fund in East Timor, allocating 10% of total state revenue from the project.

The governments will accelerate negotiations for the project and they urged the Sunrise Joint Venture to present ​a development concept as soon as possible.