Dili, Timor-Leste, 1 June 2026
His Excellency Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met with Mr. Bruce Begnell, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Timor-Leste, accompanied by accompanied by the head of the Political, Economic, and Consular sections of the American diplomatic mission Mr. Rodney LeGrand.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on developments in Timor-Leste’s oil and gas and minerals sectors, as well as opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation and investment between Timor-Leste and the United States.
During the meeting, Minister Monteiro provided an update on the Government’s priorities for the petroleum sector, including the Greater Sunrise project, Bayu-Undan redevelopment, ongoing exploration activities in both onshore and offshore areas, and the continued implementation of the Tasi Mane project. The Minister also highlighted Timor-Leste’s efforts to diversify its economy through the development of the minerals sector, including ongoing exploration activities for manganese, marble, copper, chromite, and other strategic minerals.
Minister Monteiro highlighted that oil, gas, and minerals remain important sectors for Timor-Leste’s long-term economic development, energy security, and future revenue generation. His Excellency also highlighted the growing international interest in critical minerals and encouraged greater engagement by United States companies in exploring investment opportunities in Timor-Leste.
For his part, Mr. Begnell welcomed the exchange of views and noted the increasing global importance of critical minerals and secure supply chains. The United States delegation expressed interest in learning more about developments in Timor-Leste’s minerals sector and discussed opportunities to facilitate connections between Timor-Leste and potential investors and business delegations from the United States.