Dili, April 14, 2026 (Lusa) - Timor-Leste’s government announced on Tuesday, on its official website, that Tivan Limited, an Australian mineral exploration and development company, had identified high-grade copper and gold minerals in two municipalities in Timor-Leste.

The discoveries were made in Baucau and Ossu, within the Viqueque municipality, a region characterised by geological features typically associated with significant copper and gold deposits, according to initial results of laboratory analyses of field-collected surface samples.

“The results obtained from 12 samples indicate grades of up to 17.4% copper and 38.1 grams per tonne of gold, and the presence of cobalt with values of up to 0.45%, confirming the potential of these areas for high-grade polymetallic mineralisation,” the government said.

According to the statement, Tivan completed the acquisition of its licences in February 2026 and is currently preparing for new phases of work, including further sampling campaigns, geological mapping and geophysical surveys, to identify specific targets for future drilling operations.

"Within the applicable legal framework, the company is also developing a partnership with the state-owned company Murak Rai Timor and liaising with the National Minerals Authority to carry out engagement activities with local communities and other relevant entities,” it added.

The Institute of Geosciences of Timor-Leste (IGTL) president, Job Brites dos Santos, said in November that a significant gold and copper deposit had also been discovered in the Oecussi enclave, located on the Indonesian side of the island of Timor.

"From a geosciences' perspective, this discovery demonstrates that the geological conditions in Timor-Leste favour the formation of significant mineral deposits, such as gold and copper," he told Lusa.

MSE/MYAL // ADB.

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