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During this exclusive interview, The Energy Circle by IN-VR sat down with Scott Wythe, General Manager, Minerals, Southeast Asia at Intertek, to explore how one of the world’s leading Total Quality Assurance (TQA) providers is preparing to support Timor-Leste’s rapidly developing oil, gas, and mining sectors. Our discussion covered Intertek’s plans for quality assurance, inspection, and certification services; its approach to local capacity-building; long-term regional expansion strategy; sustainability and ESG support for responsible resource development; and the digital innovations transforming assurance systems across Southeast Asia and emerging markets like Timor-Leste.
1- Intertek operates in more than 100 countries, often adapting to local regulations and standards. How is Intertek currently supporting or planning to support quality assurance, inspection, and certification for Timor-Leste’s developing oil, gas, and mining sectors?
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance (TQA) provider to industries worldwide, and our mission is to provide our customers with innovative and bespoke assurance, testing, inspection and certification services for their operations and supply chains. For emerging markets like Timor-Leste, we see strong potential to support the development of quality, safety, and transparency standards across the mining and oil and gas value chains. Intertek already plays a key role in the Southeast Asian mining and oil and gas sectors, providing TQA services that help clients ensure compliance, accuracy, and confidence from exploration to export. As these sectors continue to evolve in Timor-Leste, we stand ready to share our regional experience, technical expertise, and global best practices to help establish a solid foundation for sustainable growth and international competitiveness. Timor-Leste is prioritizing local content and skills development in its major energy and mining projects. How does Intertek work with governments and local companies to transfer knowledge, train personnel, and build in- country testing and certification capacity? At Intertek, we believe that sustainable industry growth depends on developing local capabilities. Across Southeast Asia, we have a strong track record of supporting national and local communities through technical training and the transfer of best practices in quality assurance. We employ large numbers of local staff across the region, including in some remote areas and support their ongoing professional development. For Timor-Leste, our approach would follow the same principle — empowering local talent and institutions to build long-term capacity. This could include training programs for laboratory and inspection personnel, joint workshops on international testing standards, and advisory support to help local companies meet export and certification requirements. Our goal is not only to provide services but to help countries establish self- sufficient systems that uphold international standards and foster investor confidence. In the long term, we aim to see local professionals leading high- quality testing and inspection operations that meet Intertek’s global benchmarks.
2- What is Intertek’s long-term strategy for expanding its presence in Timor- Leste and the wider Southeast Asia region, and how does the country fit into your regional growth plans?
Southeast Asia continues to be one of Intertek’s key growth regions, driven by strong demand, responsible sourcing, and sustainable development. Our long- term strategy focuses on expanding our regional laboratory and inspection networks, enhancing service provision, and supporting clients with advanced analytical capabilities that meet evolving industry standards. Timor-Leste represents an exciting emerging market within this framework. While its mining sector is still developing, we see clear potential for growth, particularly as the country attracts new exploration investments. In time, our aim is to extend our technical expertise and quality assurance solutions to support this development — beginning with regional support and as the market matures, establishing a local operational presence. Ultimately, our goal across Southeast Asia is to provide end-to-end TQA — from exploration to export — helping governments and companies operate safely, sustainably, and competitively in global markets.
3- Sustainability and environmental responsibility are becoming critical in Timor-Leste’s transition from an oil-based economy. How can Intertek’s sustainability and ESG services support mining and energy companies in meeting international environmental and social standards?
Sustainability and responsible resource development are central to how Intertek supports the global mining and energy industries. Through our Sustainability and ESG Assurance services, we help clients demonstrate compliance with international environmental and social standards — not just to meet regulations, but to build trust with investors, governments, and local communities. For countries like Timor-Leste that are transitioning toward more diversified and sustainable economies, our experience across Southeast Asia can provide a valuable framework to help support this transition. We assist companies in areas such as environmental monitoring, carbon footprint assessment, responsible sourcing verification, and community engagement standards. Our goal is to help clients operate with transparency and accountability — ensuring that every stage of their operation, from exploration to export, aligns with global ESG expectations and contributes positively to the country’s long-term development.
4- How is Intertek leveraging technology such as remote monitoring, AI-driven inspection, and digital certification to modernize quality assurance for energy and mining projects in Timor-Leste?
Technology plays a key role in how Intertek delivers smarter, faster, and more reliable assurance solutions across the minerals industry. We continue to invest heavily in digital innovation — from AI-assisted data analytics and automated laboratory workflows to remote inspection tools and digital certification platforms — all designed to enhance accuracy, transparency, and efficiency for our clients. As Timor-Leste’s economy develops, these technologies can help companies adopt international best practices from the very beginning. For example, remote monitoring and real-time data reporting can support project oversight even in remote locations, while AI-driven inspection tools can identify quality trends and potential risks earlier in the process. Our vision is to combine global expertise with digital innovation, helping emerging markets like Timor-Leste build a modern, technology-enabled quality infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
