Timor Government won't meet with Woodside over gas plans

. Woodside executives plan to travel to East Timor to convince the government to accept the company's proposal of a floating platform for liquifying gas from Greater Sunrise. [ABC]

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA- Sara Everingham

East Timor's Government says it won't meet executives from the Australian oil and gas company Woodside to discuss the development of the Greater Sunrise fields between East Timor and Australia.

Woodside executives plan to travel to East Timor to convince the government to accept the company's proposal of a floating platform for liquifying gas from Greater Sunrise.

But the government won't meet them.

It says Woodside will have to stick to the accepted channels for negotiation and deal with East Timor's petroleum regulator.

East Timor's Government wants the gas processed onshore in East Timor.

A source close to the government source says Woodside has underestimated East Timor's ability to strike a fair deal and says the Woodside visit holds little credibility in East Timor because the company has a dubious history of dealing with developing nations.
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