Dili,23 February 2026
His Excellency Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, held a meeting with His Excellency Yamamoto Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste.
Minister Monteiro welcomed Ambassador Yamamoto on his recent appointment and reaffirmed the strong bilateral friendship and longstanding cooperation between Timor-Leste and Japan. His Excellency acknowledged Japan’s continued support to Timor-Leste since the restoration of independence and its important role in supporting national development and institutional capacity building.
The meeting focused on the opportunities that Timor-Leste offers in the oil and gas and minerals sectors, and the potential for deeper engagement with Japanese companies and institutions. Minister Monteiro provided an update on the latest developments in the Greater Sunrise project, the opportunities emerging from Bayu-Undan 2.0 and the Government’s broader downstream industrial strategy through the Tasi Mane project. Discussions highlighted Timor-Leste’s intention to advance energy development in a structured and strategic manner, while strengthening long-term economic resilience.
During the meeting, the Minister and the Ambassador also exchanged views on regional energy security and the upcoming Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum to be held in Tokyo in March 2026. The event will bring together Ministers and industry leaders to discuss reliable energy supply, investment frameworks, infrastructure development, and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.