Díli, Timor-Leste, 24 September 2026

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPRM) has awarded three major offshore survey contracts to support the continued development of the Greater Sunrise Project and the Pipeline Highway Project, marking another important step towards bringing Timor-Leste’s natural gas resources to the south coast and advancing the development of a domestic LNG industry.

The contracts comprise a Light Geotechnical Survey awarded to PT. Taka Hydrocore Indonesia, and a Heavy Geotechnical Survey and Metocean Survey awarded to Fugro Singapore Marine PTE LTD.

The surveys will be undertaken in Timorese waters off the south coast of Timor-Leste, across water depths ranging from 20 metres to 3,000 metres. The work will provide essential technical data to support the development and design of the proposed Greater Sunrise pipeline from the Greater Sunrise Joint Development Area to Natarbora, as well as the Pipeline Highway from the Bayu-Undan Field to Natarbora.

The Light Geotechnical Survey, will acquire and assess geotechnical samples up to six metres below the seabed to support pipeline route selection and design. PT. Taka Hydrocore Indonesia is scheduled to commence the offshore survey campaign in January 2027.

The Heavy Geotechnical Survey, will be undertaken by Fugro Singapore Marine PTE LTD and will acquire geotechnical samples up to 50 metres below the seabed. The survey will support the identification and assessment of geohazards, pipeline route selection and future pipeline system design, with offshore activities scheduled to commence in February 2027.

Fugro Singapore Marine PTE LTD has also been awarded the Metocean Survey. The survey will collect metocean data over a 12-month period to support future pipeline system design, with equipment deployment scheduled to commence in January 2027.

These latest awards follow MPRM’s award of the Geophysical Survey Contract to Fugro Singapore Marine PTE LTD in July 2026, which is also supporting the progression of the Greater Sunrise and Pipeline Highway Projects.

Through these offshore survey programmes, MPRM continues to advance both projects in parallel towards the next stage of development. Front-End Engineering Design activities for the Greater Sunrise and Pipeline Highway Projects are expected to commence in 2027, supporting the Government’s objective of establishing the infrastructure required to bring natural gas to Timor-Leste’s south coast and contribute to the country’s long-term economic and industrial development.