Timor-Leste and Woodside are planning direct talks in an attempt to unlock the stalled Sunrise LNG project in the Timor Sea. The project owners want to deploy a floating LNG production vessel while the Timor-Leste government wants a subsea pipeline and onshore LNG plant on its south coast. There has been little progress since the July elections in Timor-Leste but a meeting late last month of the inter-governmental Sunrise Commission, which includes Australia, resulted in some movement. Sources said Timor-Leste’s third-party independent assessment of Sunrise reserves is gathering pace, and an agreement was reached for Timor-Leste and Woodside to enter into negotiations on possible ­solutions. The joint venture is said to have some alternative development concepts in mind but that does not mean they will be tabled. Options include all of the Sunrise liquids (condensate) being shipped to a new refinery on Timor-Leste’s coast and for Timor-Leste’s equity gas to be shipped to its shores. The joint venture is still 100% committed to FLNG.