Media Releases
21 of November of 2018Shell Australia and the Government of Timor-Leste agree on terms for sale of interest in Greater Sunrise fieldsGOVERNMENT OF TIMOR-LESTE AND SHELL AUSTRALIAmore
JOINT NEWS RELEASE
November 21 2018
Shell Australia and Government of Timor-Leste agree on terms for sale of interest in Greater Sunrise Fields
Bali, INDONESIA - Shell Australia and the Government of Timor-Leste have entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the sale of Shell's 26.56 percent interest in the Greater Sunrise fields.
Timor-Leste's Special Representative Mr. Xanana Gusmão stated that "Timor-Leste appreciates Shell's willingness to sell its interests in the Greater Sunrise project". Mr. Gusmão recalled that, in his address at the "World Energy Forum of the Atlantic Council" in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, he stressed that multinational companies have to assume their responsibilities towards small countries as part of their social license to operate. "Shell's attitude throughout the negotiations shows that it is ready to consider not only its commercial interests but also the interests of small nations."
The Special Representative further commended the open and honest discussions between the Parties' delegations, and clarified that "Timor-Leste sees Shell as a good partner and friend, and far from ending the relationship between the two Parties this transaction instead reaffirms our commitment for the future."
EVP for Shell Australia, Zoe Yujnovich said the transaction, valued at US$300 million, will allow the Timor-Leste Government and joint venture partners to pursue their aspirations for the Greater Sunrise development.
"We respect the Timor-Leste Government's determination to develop the Sunrise fields through an onshore LNG facility on its south coast. Although we formed different views about the optimal development scenario, we understand the priorities of the Timor-Leste Government and wish it well in pursuing its aspirations to develop this important resource for the nation.
"This sale aligns with our global strategy to reshape Shell into a simpler and more resilient company. Our Australian portfolio remains strong as operator of both the QGC onshore natural gas project, Prelude FLNG and significant positions in the Gorgon and North West Shelf LNG projects," Ms Yujnovich said.
The Timor-Leste Government's purchase of Shell's interest is conditional on receiving funding approval from the Timor-Leste Council of Ministers and National Parliament, as well as regulatory approvals and partner pre-emption rights.
The sale transaction comprises Shell's permits NT/Rl2 and NT/RL4 within Australia waters and PSC 03-19 and PSC 03-20 within Timor-Leste waters and associated governance agreements.
The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as the Greater Sunrise fields, are located approximately 150 kilometres south east of Timor-Leste and 450 kilometres north west of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
The Government of Timor-Leste was advised by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Miranda & Associados. ENDS
21 of November of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 21, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 21, 2018
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began with the approval of the organic of the State Secretariat for the Environment, the government department that supports the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the environment.
The Minister of Transport and Communications presented a proposal for the appointment of the Members that make up the Board of Directors of the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações, the National Communications Authority. The Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações is a Public Institute under the authority of the Minister of Transport and Communications and is responsible for regulating, supervising and inspecting the communications sector in all its aspects, namely licensing and supervising telecommunications operators, ensuring the management of the radioelectric spectrum and the regulation of the communications sector. The Government approved the appointment of João Olívio Freitas, as President of the Board of Directors and Georgina Emília da Silva Garcia, as Finance Director. Subsequently, the Council of Ministers will appoint the Non-Executive Director.
The Council of Ministers also approved a proposal for a Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, regarding the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Social Security. Mr. Longuinhos Armando S. I. Leto, MM, as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Azevedo Marçal, PhD and Mr. Cornelio Barros, as members of the Board of Directors, Mr. Alberto Carvalho Araújo, SS, MM, EM, as representative of employers, and Mr. Ramalho da Costa, A.P., as representative of the workers, in the aforementioned Board of Directors of the National Institute of Social Security. ENDS- 14 of November of 2018 Government expresses condolences for the death of André da Costa Belo, L4Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Government expresses condolences for the death of André da Costa Belo, L4
The Council of Ministers deeply regrets the death, on the 12th of November of André da Costa Belo, L4, due to a prolonged illness.
L4 was one of the great fighters in the guerrilla against the Indonesian occupation, namely as one of the leaders of the resistance organization "Sagrada Familia".
After the restoration of independence, L4 remained politically active, having been founder and political commissar of the Popular Liberation Party (PLP) and having integrated the Seventh Constitutional Government, as Secretary of State for Veterans.
André da Costa Belo completed university studies at the University of Dili (UNDIL), of which he was Vice-Rector until his death, and was also a promoter of sports among young people.
The Eight Constitutional Government joins Timorese leaders and institutions in the homage and presentation of condolences to the family of L4, a hero and veteran of the National Liberation Struggle. - 14 of November of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 14, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 14, 2018
available soon 
07 of November of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 7, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 7, 2018
The Council of Ministers met in the Government Palace in Dili and began with a presentation by the Ministry of Finance of the final proposal of the General State Budget Law for 2019, which was approved by the members of the Government.The National Petroleum and Mineral Authority, through its Vice President, made a presentation regarding TL Cement, Lda. which was initially incorporated as a Limited Liability Company with limited liability and private capital. The acting Minister of Finance then gave a brief presentation of the current situation of the Government's debt to Timor Telecom for the years 2015 to 2017.The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, on the organic of the Ministry of Justice, the government department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the area of justice, human rights and land and property rights.The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law on the organic of the Ministry of Finance, a governmental entity responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of annual budget planning and monitoring and finance.The Government also approved the proposal for a Decree-Law on the organic of the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sport, the governmental department that supports the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of youth and sport.The Government also approved the proposal for a Decree-Law on the organic of the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment, the government department that supports the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of work, vocational training and employment.The Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs presented to the members of the Council of Ministers the options defined by the "Compact" program, the main objective of which is to reduce poverty in Timor-Leste through economic growth, within a project developed and financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), in coordination with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. In order to strengthen bilateral relations between the Government of Timor-Leste and the Government of the United States of America, MCC has been developing a full support program for Timor-Leste since 2011.The Council of Ministers approved two programs, one on combating rickets and the other on human capital development.
06 of November of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 6, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 6, 2018
The Council of Ministers met extraordinarily at the Government Palace in Dili.
The acting Finance Minister presented the Proposal of the General State Budget Law for 2019.
Taking into account the budget of each ministry as well as the external expenses to be paid, the maximum expenditure of the General State Budget for 2019 was set at a total of US $ 1,827 million dollars (1 billion, eight hundred and twenty-seven million American dollars).
The maximum budget expenditure was calculated taking into consideration the different categories of expenses and the investments of the State through the Infrastructure Fund in relation to the different programs/projects undergoing and to be started.
The proposed Law of the General State Budget will be sent to the National Parliament on November 8, as per the approved calendar.
31 of Outubro of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 31, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 31, 2018
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began with a presentation by the Ministry of Finance of the National Human Development Report, based on a survey carried out in partnership with Flinders University of Australia and the United Nations Development Program. The aforementioned report focused on the current situation and welfare of the younger generation. Recommendations include investment in quality of health care, education and the economy, development of opportunities for young people, with a view to increasing the well-being of young people in Timor-Leste in general.
The Ministry of Finance then presented the Baucau-Viqueque Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project through a loan to be granted by the Asian Development Bank. The project will run for 3 years starting in 2019 and ending in 2021. The main objective of the project is to provide a more secure, reliable and high-quality road network. This new network of roads will have a very positive impact, because it will strengthen and increase the efficiency of mobility of people and goods, will give great support to economic growth and consequent reduction of poverty in rural areas.
Representatives of the National Bank of Commerce of Timor-Leste (BNCTL) presented a capitalization proposal through Government financing for the year 2019. They showed by graphs the evolution of the growth of deposits and credits, from 2011 to the present date, as well as other variations related to loans, deposits and capital adequacy during this period, as well as the projections for the year 2019.
The Council of Ministers approved a Government Resolution on the contribution of Timor-Leste to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Fund for State Assistance in the amount of USD $ 250,000.00. This decision follows a request made by the Chief Negotiator, Xanana Gusmão, in the framework of Timor-Leste's position to support "fragile states", with similar border problems, but with major financial obstacles which hinder access to mechanisms of international law for the settlement of disputes concerning the delimitation of borders.
The Government approved the granting of a contribution of USD $ 180,000.00 to the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sport to support "Suai Extreme", a sports, music, culture and adventure festival, which will have the duration of 6 days and will culminate with the official inauguration of the motorway on the southern region of the country. Thousands of people, both Timorese and international, are expected to participate in recreational activities, some of which will occur for the first time in Timor-Leste.
The Acting Finance Minister also made a brief presentation of the draft General State Budget for 2019, which should be presented to the National Parliament for discussion and approval.
The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, submitted by the Minister of Public Works, Salvador Eugénio Soares dos Reis Pires, on the organic law of the Ministry of Public Works, the government department responsible for designing, executing, coordinating and evaluating the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of public works, urban planning, housing, water supply, distribution and management, sanitation and electricity.
The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, on the organic law of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the governmental department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of civil, maritime and air transport, auxiliary services, communications, postal services, telegraph, telephone and other telecommunications and meteorological and geophysical services.
The Government approved the proposed Decree-Law, presented by the Acting Minister of Health, Élia A. dos Reis Amaral, on the organic law of the Ministry of Health, the government department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of health and pharmaceutical activities.
The Government approved the proposed Decree-Law, submitted by the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, on the organic law of the Ministry of Defense, the government department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, regarding the areas of national defense and the Armed Forces of Timor-Leste.
The Government also approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, on the organic law of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, the governmental department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the areas of higher education and qualification, as well as for the areas of science, technology, arts and culture.
The Government also approved the proposed Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dulce de Jesus Soares, on the organic law of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and policy evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of education, excluding the higher level, for the consolidation and promotion of official languages, youth and sport.
The Ministry of Tourism briefed members of the Council of Ministers on international events related to the commemorations of the Chinese New Year in which Timor-Leste will participate, as well as Expo Dubai 2020. In relation to this last event, Timor-Leste will officially present its tourism logo - "Timor-Leste, Explore the Undiscovered".- 31 of Outubro of 2018Clarification regarding false press releasePresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Clarification regarding false press release
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers announces that a false Communiqué has been circulated, that was not issued by this Government department, which falsely informs the public that a tolerance half day was given to public sector staff this Wednesday, October 31st, from midday. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers urges the public and civil servants in particular not to consider statements which, although they may mention that they were issued by the PCM, are not published in the Government Portal.
