Woodside Energy Inks LNG Deal: First Gas Could Flow by 2032-2035

Australian energy giant Woodside Energy just dropped a major announcement—they’ve partnered with Timor-Leste to develop a massive LNG project around the Greater Sunrise gas fields.

Here’s what’s happening:

The Scale: This isn’t small potatoes. Woodside is planning a greenfield LNG facility pumping out ~5 million tonnes annually, plus they’re throwing in a domestic gas hub and helium extraction plant on the deal.

The Timeline: First LNG could be operational between 2032-2035—so we’re looking at a 7-10 year buildout from now. That’s the target locked in their high-level work plan.

What’s Next: Both parties are now running parallel tracks—Woodside and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources are grinding through commercial and technical due diligence, while governments (Timor-Leste + Australia) hash out the fiscal, regulatory, and legal frameworks with the Sunrise Joint Venture.

Market Read: WDS shares closed up 0.12% at AUD 25.11 on the ASX. This deal signals serious confidence in the project’s viability, though execution risk remains until final investment decisions are locked in.

The play here: if Timor-Leste can lock in LNG production by the mid-2030s, it becomes a meaningful player in regional energy supply during a period when global gas demand could remain solid.