Government authorises spending on electricity supply and irrigation construction projects
At its meeting on March 13th, 2024, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure on the electricity supply throughout the country and the construction of two irrigation systems in Baucau and Viqueque.
In the first deliberation, the Council of Ministers authorised expenditure for transferring funds from the General State Budget for the "802 Electricity" Programme from the Ministry of Public Works to the Timor-Leste Public Electricity Company (EDTL, EP). Thus, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure for the signing of subsidy contracts between the MOP and EDTL, EP, to the value of US$ 148.5 million, which will serve to provide EDTL, EP with the necessary resources to supply electricity to the entire national territory, an essential public service for the population and the country's economy.
With the other draft resolution approved, the Council of Ministers authorised expenditures on the construction contract for the Uatuwa-Modobuti irrigation project in the municipality of Baucau, totalling US$ 26.57 million, and on the construction contract for the Iraberi irrigation project in Village (Suco) Irabin de Baixo, in the municipality of Viqueque, totalling US$ 11.96 million.
The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Decree-Law on the Special Procurement Regime for the Visit of His Holiness the Pope.
Considering the historical importance and significance for the Timorese population of this possible visit by His Holiness Pope Francis to Timor-Leste, the purpose of this decree-law is to ensure the special procedures applicable to the public procurement of leasing or acquisition of movable goods, the acquisition of services or the execution of public works contracts and which are intended for the organisation, programming, design and implementation of activities and projects to ensure the security and organisation of the papal visit. This initiative responds to the need to make formalities and deadlines more flexible outside the urgent preparations that must be implemented for the papal visit.
