Tibar Bay Port construction reaches 92% and enters into operation on September 30th
On Friday last week, members of the Interministerial Committee, namely the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes and the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agostinho, met with the representatives of the Tibar Project Management Unit (PMU), the Customs Authority, the National Directorate of Maritime Transport, APORTIL, the Quarantine Services, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Works, the Immigration Services, EDTL and other relevant State Entities and decided that the Tibar Bay Port will come into operation on September 30th, 2022.
This entry into operation means that, as of October 1st, the Dili Port will be closed to container ship operations. This service will be transferred to the Tibar Bay Port.
The Dili Port will continue to operate domestic passenger ships and cruise ships carrying international tourists.
The official launch of the Tibar Bay Port will take place on November 30th, 2022. This event will coincide with the commemorations of the Timor-Leste’s Proclamation of Independence anniversary.
When it begins operating, the Tibar Bay Port will replace the Dili Port, thus offering better conditions for the movement of import and export goods. The new port will have a handling capacity of one million containers per year. The port includes a double berth quay which will be used to reduce delays in container unloading, including transaction costs, to facilitate efficient customs services and commercial activities.
These efficiency improvements are considered a crucial step by the Ministry of Finance within the scope of Tax and Public Finance Management Reform. This efficiency will also help the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, collect revenue faster, fairer and more transparently.
This new, modern port will facilitate Timor-Leste’s maritime connectivity in the Asian Region, linking Timor-Leste to global trade markets, and will increase Timor-Leste’s trade access to goods in areas such as agriculture, tourism, fisheries, livestock as well as other industries – a pathway to help Timor-Leste in diversifying production.
The Tibar Bay Port was built based on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government of Timor-Leste, which contributed US$ 130 million, through a Viability Fund (VGF) and Timor-Port, a subsidiary of Bolloré, which invested US$ 150 million. The total value for the initial phase is thus US$ 280 million, out of a total planned investment of US$ 500 million, over 30 years.
The Tibar Bay Port project is a project of public interest, led by the Interministerial Committee whose current members are the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Planning and Territory and the Minister of Transport and Communications.
In turn, the Dili Port will be refurbished to operate as a tourism and trading point. The project for the refurbishment and commercialization of the Dili Port was approved by the Council of Ministers on July 28th, 2021.
On September 8th, 2021, the Council of Ministers reviewed the Development Plan for the restructuring and modernization of the Dili Port, which had already been subject to deliberation in the meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 28th, 2021. However, due to the introduction of some amendments in the final drafting phase, it became necessary to submit it to a new deliberation.
The Council of Ministers approved the adoption of the PPP financing modality, to be developed following the legal and regulatory framework in force. The Development Plan for the restructuring and modernization of the Dili Port foresees that, after the transfer of the cargo port functions to the new Tibar Bay Port, restructuring will be carried out to transform it into a marina and a cruise port. This national project, which is located in a central strategic area of the city of Dili, serves as a maritime connection facility for the population of Oe-Cússe and Ataúro and has the potential to become a dynamic hub for marine tourism in Timor-Leste.
The project to remodel and commercialize the Dili Port will be managed by the Timor-Leste Port Authority (APORTIL), under the Ministry of Transport and Communications supervision.
This project, also in the PPP modality, has an estimated value of more than US$ 50 million, to transform the Dili Port into a tourism hub, which will include cultural and recreational facilities and residential areas. This project will create jobs and provide business opportunities for Dili residents, further transforming the landscape of Timor-Leste’s capital city so that it becomes increasingly attractive to domestic and international tourists.
On this occasion, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers would like to invite journalists to participate and cover the official opening of the Tibar Bay Port, on September 30th.
