Liam Cochrane, Dili – The government in East Timor has shown off a European-built pipeline which it says can be used to send natural gas to the country from the disputed Greater Sunrise Field off the north-west coast of Australia.

East Timor and Australian company Woodside have been in a long-running dispute about how to process gas from the field, which is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

Prime minister Xinanhua Gusmao unveiled the short section of pipe outside the parliament in front of government leaders and foreign development partners.

The pipe is only a few metres long, but secretary of state and natural resources Alfredo Pirez says it symbolises the country's commitment to build a refinery in East Timor.

The Greater Sunrise project is operated by Woodside, which favours a floating conversion facility. There was no comment from the Australian ambassador at the launch and Mr Pirez says talks with Woodside are continuing.