DILI (TOP) - Australian-owned oil and gas company Timor Resources Pty Ltd, led by Christopher Moyes, Non-Executive Director of Timor Resources Pty Ltd, and former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, now as an advisor, have informed Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão that the company has begun drilling oil from three available offshore Timor-Leste.
Non-Executive Director of Timor Resources Pty Ltd, Christopher Moyes, and his team entered government offices to meet with Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The Director of Timor Resources has updated the progress of the work to the Prime Minister (PM), Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão at the Government Palace, Thursday, 16 April, 2026.
"Timor Resources has drilled three onshore oil wells in Timor. We look to advance exploration for evaluation and development. Today, we have the opportunity to meet with the Prime-Minister and share our interest in this project. Christopher Moyes said after the meeting with PM Xanana.
The company appreciates the support of the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão for giving them the confidence to explore the wealth of Timor to bring benefits to the entire people of TL.
“We expect to drill additional onshore wells thereby developing potential oil reserves and gas reserves,” he said.
Timor Resources Pty Ltd is an Australian private oil and gas company, established in 2016 with the sole objective of exploring for oil and gas onshore Timor-Leste.
Timor Resources is the operator of two highly prospective onshore exploration blocks in Timor-Leste.
Timor Resources in partnership with the National Oil Company TIMOR GAP, has drilled 3 exploration wells between 2021 and 2023 with 100% success.
Significant oil and gas discoveries have been made. Efforts to evaluate these findings are ongoing. Two additional exploration wells are planned to test different play types with different targets.
The meeting was accompanied by former Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Julie Bishop, currently an advisor to Timor Resources.
Timor Resources Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian oil and gas company, incorporated in 2016, for the sole purpose of exploring for oil and gas onshore Timor-Leste, formerly East Timor. Timor Resources is the Operator, in two highly prospective onshore exploration blocks holding PSC TL OT 1708 and PSC TL OT 1709 Timor-Leste. Working in partnership with the National Oil Company of Timor-Leste. Timor Resources drilled the first 3 exploration wells in 2021.
Significant oil and gas was discovered and efforts to appraise these discoveries is now underway.
Timor Resources “Company” is a conventional onshore oil and gas exploration company with material discoveries onshore in Timor Leste.
The Company holds the lease rights to ~3,100sqkm for two onshore blocks within Timor Leste, and has Production Sharing Contracts with the Timor Leste government.
The resource portfolio is a compelling mix of discovered resources, including, shallow oil discoveries and high-impact, regionally significant natural gas resources. Near term: ~20 MMBOE (2C contingent resource). The Appraisal for development program will be undertaken in 2025.
Medium term: ~800 MMBOE (2U P50 prospective resources) – blue sky opportunity, including up to ~7 TCF of natural gas.
Projects of national significance to Timor Leste.
Having gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, Timor Leste is a young and vibrant nation. The energy sector is a key growth pillar for the national economy and the region is a highly prospective hydrocarbon destination.
Following the conclusion of commercial production at Bayu Undan, the Company’s onshore discoveries offer near term contribution to government revenue while accelerating economic development and creating employment opportunities.
The gas discoveries also have the potential to create a strategic foundation for national energy independence and resilience.
The mission of the company is “to unlock the onshore energy resource potential of Timor-Leste thereby improving the life of and creating wealth for the people of Timor-Leste whilst providing significant returns to our shareholders.”
