Woodside's $5M Tonne LNG Play: Southeast Asia's Next Energy Megaproject Takes Shape

Woodside Energy just locked in a cooperation deal with Timor-Leste to push forward the Greater Sunrise LNG project—and the timeline is aggressive: first gas potentially flowing by 2032-2035.

Here’s what’s happening on the ground:

The Numbers

• Greenfield LNG capacity: ~5 million tonnes annually
• Includes domestic gas facility + helium extraction plant
• Joint development between Sunrise JV, Timor-Leste, and Australian governments

Why It Matters This isn’t just another energy project. Timor-Leste is betting big on becoming a regional LNG hub, while Woodside gets first-mover advantage on one of Southeast Asia’s highest-margin gas fields. The parallel negotiations on fiscal and regulatory frameworks suggest both sides are serious about closing this deal within 2-3 years.

The Reality Check LNG projects notoriously slip timelines. 2032-2035 first gas is ambitious for a greenfield play, especially with three governments involved. Watch the next maturation milestones—they’ll signal whether this stays on track or hits the usual 18-24 month delays.

Stock reaction: WDS up 0.12% to AUD 25.11 on the ASX. Market shrugged, but the real price action will come when the first fiscal framework drops.