# Timor-Leste Advances Greater Sunrise Gas Project with Increased Stake, Pipeline Survey

> Timor Gás & Petróleo EP (Timor GAP) acquired an additional 10% interest in the Greater Sunrise gas project on September 2, 2026, raising its total stake to 66.56%, following a July 17, 2026, contract for a critical pipeline survey.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-18T20:18:09.979637Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/timor-leste-advances-greater-sunrise-gas-project-with-increased-stake-pipeline-survey-da1ed3d2

Timor Gás & Petróleo EP (Timor GAP), Timor-Leste's state-owned energy company, finalized an agreement on September 2, 2026, to acquire Osaka Gas Australia Pty Ltd's 10% participating interest in the Greater Sunrise project, raising Timor GAP's total stake to 66.56% [3][5]. This development came after the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPRM) signed a contract with Fugro Singapore Marine Pte Ltd on July 17, 2026, for a Geophysical and Two-Dimensional High-Resolution Seismic (2D-HRS) Survey for the Greater Sunrise Gas Export Pipeline [8].

These recent actions are expected to pave the way for a final investment decision on the Greater Sunrise project, which Timor-Leste considers essential for its economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and energy security [1][7].

## What the records show

On September 2, 2026, Timor GAP announced a binding agreement to purchase Osaka Gas Australia Pty Ltd's 10% stake in the Greater Sunrise project [3][6]. This acquisition elevated Timor GAP's ownership from 56.56% to 66.56%, establishing it as the majority stakeholder [5][16]. The remaining partner, Woodside Energy, holds a 33.44% interest [16]. The Greater Sunrise complex, discovered in 1974, comprises the Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields [4][13]. It holds estimated contingent resources of 5.13 trillion cubic feet of gas and 226 million barrels of condensate [4][18].

Before this, on July 17, 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources signed a contract with Fugro Singapore Marine Pte Ltd for a survey [8]. This survey will cover deepwater offshore areas in the Timor Sea and includes geophysical, seismic, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) surveys [10]. The purpose is to provide detailed seabed and shallow subsurface information, which will optimize the pipeline route, support engineering design, and ensure safe development of the gas export pipeline [8][10]. The survey also incorporates the Bayu Undan energy development, linking two regional energy initiatives [9][11].

## Timeline of recent developments

**July 17, 2026:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPRM) signed a contract with Fugro Singapore Marine Pte Ltd for a Geophysical and Two-Dimensional High-Resolution Seismic (2D-HRS) Survey for the Greater Sunrise Gas Export Pipeline [8].

**September 2, 2026:** Timor GAP finalized an agreement to acquire Osaka Gas Australia Pty Ltd's 10% participating interest in the Greater Sunrise project [3].

## What changed and for whom

Timor GAP's stake in the Greater Sunrise project significantly increased from 56.56% to 66.56%, making it the majority owner [5][16]. This shift in ownership structure is seen as a key step in accelerating the project's development [4]. The initiation of the pipeline survey addresses a long-standing point of contention regarding the location of the LNG export facility. Timor-Leste has consistently advocated for a pipeline to an onshore facility within its borders, rather than to Darwin, Australia [7]. The survey's findings are intended to support this preferred route [8].

## What the subject has said publicly

Rui Soares, CEO of Timor GAP, stated that the acquisition of Osaka Gas Australia's stake is a significant milestone for both Timor GAP and Timor-Leste [4]. Soares noted that this move increases the country's participation in the project and positions partners to "fast-track pending work with a view to the selection of the Timor LNG development concept in the near future" [4].

Timor-Leste's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, anticipates that agreements for the Greater Sunrise gas project will be signed "within the next few months" [1][2].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm a specific date for the final investment decision (FID) for the Greater Sunrise project. We also could not confirm a precise timeline for the completion of the geophysical and seismic surveys being conducted by Fugro Singapore Marine Pte Ltd. The project's full economic impact on job creation and infrastructure development in Timor-Leste could not be confirmed beyond general statements. The exact details of the agreements anticipated to be signed by President Ramos-Horta were not specified.

## Evidence cited
1. Timor-Leste president says stalled gas project 'finally happening' (www.abc.net.au) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-18/timor-leste-president-says-gas-deal-to-be-signed/107280310
2. (October 18 2026) Timor-Leste president stalled (cedarnews.net) — https://cedarnews.net/
3. (September 30 2026) On 2 September 2026, TimorGAP, E.P. announced that it had reached a binding agreement with Osaka Gas Australia Pty Ltd to acquire their 10% participating interest in the Greater Sunrise project. (blogspot.com) — https://blogspot.com/
4. (September 03 2026) Greater Sunrise is comprised of Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields. Discovered in 1974, the Greater Sunrise complex holds estimated contingent resources of 5.13 tcf of gas and 226 million bbl of condensate. The project is expected to start producing natural gas by 2028-2030. Timor GAP chief executive officer Rui Soares said the acquisition marks a milestone for both the company and Timor-Leste, increasing the country's participation in the Greater Sunrise projec (ogj.com) — https://ogj.com/
5. (September 10 2026) Timor GAP Acquires Interest in Greater Sunrise Project (oilvoice.com) — https://oilvoice.com/
6. (September 04 2026) Timor Gap purchases Osaka Gas' stake in Greater Sunrise Project (worldenergynews.com) — https://worldenergynews.com/
7. (May 18 2017) ... development. The first phase of the LNG Plant development will establish a pro- duction capacity of 5 million tons per annum (MTPA) or one train, which may be expanded in the future to a capacity of up-to 20 MTPA or four trains. The LNG plant feedstock will be delivered through a pipeline with a route of approximately 231km across Timor trough, which will transport dry gas at 900 MMCFD flow rate during normal operation. The marine facility is a specifically designed port dedica (timorgap.com) — https://timorgap.com/
8. (July 17 2026) DILI, 17 July 2026 (TATOLI) (tatoli.tl) — https://tatoli.tl/
9. (July 20 2026) Fugro Wins Survey Contract for Greater Sunrise, Bayu Undan Pipeline Projects. (pgjonline.com) — https://pgjonline.com/
10. (July 20 2026) Fugro will conduct geophysical, seismic and AUV surveys across deepwater areas of the Timor Sea to provide seabed data for pipeline data for pipeline routing, engineering design and geohazard assessment for the Greater Sunrise and Bayu Undan developments. (offshore-mag.com) — https://offshore-mag.com/
11. (July 17 2026) The survey programme will support the planning and development of critical offshore energy infrastructure associated with the Greater Sunrise and Bayu Undan developments, two strategically important projects that underpin Timor-Leste's future energy ambitions. (fugro.com) — https://fugro.com/
12. (July 21 2026) The survey programme will support the planning and development of critical offshore energy infrastructure associated with the Greater Sunrise and Bayu Undan developments, two strategically important projects that underpin Timor-Leste's future energy ambitions. (eijournal.com) — https://eijournal.com/
13. (April 15 2026) The Sunrise development comprises the Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as Greater Sunrise. (woodside.com) — https://woodside.com/
14. (January 08 2025) Frequent breaches of the Estimated Sustainable Income (ESI) rule, designed to cap annual withdrawals and preserve the Fund's longevity, highlight growing fiscal risks and the urgent need for improved fiscal management. Moreover, the projected depletion of the Petroleum Fund in 2035 based on the recent MoF's estimate2, compounded by the uncertain development of additional reserves like Greater Sunrise, poses a significant threat to fiscal stability. Without immediate reforms, Ti — https://fundasaunmahein.org/
15. (January 23 2025) The Greater Sunrise Gas Field: A Catalyst for Timor-Leste's Future. (aseanbriefing.com) — https://aseanbriefing.com/
16. Project overview

 The Greater Sunrise gas field, encompassing the Sunrise and Troubadour fields, is one of the largest undeveloped gas reserves in the Asia-Pacific region. It holds an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas and 226 million barrels of condensate. This project, designed by international engineering firms such as JPKenny, HR Wallingford, and Amec Foster Wheeler, ensures adherence to top-tier engineering standards. Key milestones include a Final Investment Decision ( (energycircle.org) — https://energycircle.org/
17. The Sunrise joint venture participants sponsored the Dili 'City of Peace' marathon as part of its ongoing social investment program. ... The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as the Greater Sunrise fields, are located approximately 150 km south-east of Timor- Leste and 450 km north-west of Darwin, Northern Territory. The fields were discovered in 1974 and hold a total contingent resource of 5.13 Tcf of dry gas and 225.9 million barrels of condensate. These volu (laohamutuk.org) — https://laohamutuk.org/
18. Project background

 The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as Greater Sunrise, are located approximately 450 kilometres north-west of Darwin and 150 kilometres south of Timor-Leste. The fields were discovered in 1974 and hold gross (100%) contingent resources (2C) of 5.13 Tcf of dry gas and 225.9 million barrels of condensate. (dmsuniverse.com) — https://dmsuniverse.com/
19. (June 13 2026) Greater Sunrise Gas Project is a discovered gas project in Northern Territory, Australia. Greater Sunrise Gas Project is a part of the Greater Sunrise Gas Project (Northern Territory, Australia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia). Project Details. Main Data. Table 1: Project-level project details for Greater Sunrise Gas Project. 1Final Investment Decision. Unit name, Status, Operator, Owner, Discovery year, FID1 year, Production start year, Production type. Greater Sunrise, discovered, Woods (gem.wiki) — https://gem.wiki/
20. (November 06 2024) Greater Sunrise is a conventional gas development located in deepwater in Timor Sea Joint Petroleum Development Area and is operated by Woodside Petroleum (Timor Sea 19). According to GlobalData, who tracks more than 34,000 active and developing oil and gas fields worldwide, Greater Sunrise was discovered in 1974, lies in block JPDA 03-19, NT/RL 2, and NT/RL 4, with water depth of around 1,722 feet. Buy the profile here. Smarter leaders trust GlobalData. Report-cover  Data In (offshore-technology.com) — https://offshore-technology.com/
21. (January 20 2026) The opportunity. Discovered in 1974, the Greater Sunrise fields hold a total estimated contingent resource of 5.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 226 million barrels of condensate, making it one of the most significant undeveloped gas resources in the region. The possibility of tapping into it as a viable project has been considered for many years, with discussion centred on the location of the processing facilities. (energyclubnt.com.au) — https://energyclubnt.com.au/
22. (September 14 2026) ... PSC 03-19 no PSC 03-20, no mós Australian Retention Leases NT/RL2 no NT/RL4. Transasaun ne'e liga mós ho prosesu atu finaliza single Production Sharing Contract foun tuir Maritime Boundaries Treaty entre Timor-Leste no Austrália (TIMOR GAP, 2026a). Ho akizisaun Osaka Gas nia 10%, estrutura partisipasaun ne'ebé resulta depois transasaun ne'e efetivu mak: TIMOR GAP, E.P. (66.56 %) Woodside Energy (33.44 %). Nune'e, depois akizisaun ne'e, ... Osaka Gas nia 10% husi TIMOR GAP (facebook.com) — https://facebook.com/
23. (February 27 2018) The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as Greater Sunrise, are located approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) south east of Timor-Leste and 450 kilometers (280 miles) north west of Darwin, Australia, in waters up to 600 meters deep. Approximately 20 percent of the Greater Sunrise fields are situated in the Joint Development Petroleum Area, jointly administered by Timor-Leste and Australia, while 80 percent are in Australian waters. (maritime-executive.com) — https://maritime-executive.com/
24. (December 05 2025) The key to a sustainable economic future for Timor-Leste lies primarily in collaboration with Australia, particularly through the joint development of the Greater Sunrise gas field. Located in the Timor Sea, the field is 150 kilometers south of Timor-Leste and 450 kilometers northwest of Darwin, Australia. Maritime agreements between the two (gisreportsonline.com) — https://gisreportsonline.com/
25. (September 26 2025) ... Timor Gap's purchasing an increased stake in the Greater Sunrise joint venture. To prevent these temporary flows from inflating the FDI-to-GDP ratio shock, the historical average and standard deviation correspond to 2014–24 (excluding 2019-22). Second, to account for the fact that petroleum production is stalling, the export stress test was customized to reflect a non-fuel export structure that is now expected in the baseline projection. 13. A tailored stress test on natu (imf.org) — https://imf.org/
26. (April 01 2026) on Greater Sunrise continues; a minerals licensing round has been launched; and discussions on. Bayu-Undan carbon capture and storage remain active. Private sector dynamism has been another encouraging development. Non-petroleum business employment increased by 27.6 percent from 2021 to 2024, adding about 14,400 workers bringing total employment to about 66,600 workers in 2024. Domestic tax collection rose by 31.6 percent in. 2025, far exceeding earlier projections. Together, the (worldbank.org) — https://worldbank.org/
27. ... TIMOR GAP, acquired a combined 56.56% stake in the project from.
ConocoPhillips (30% for $350 million) and Shell (26.56% for $300 million), totaling $650 (ecsis.org) — https://ecsis.org/