The Prime Minister visited the Wlingi Dam infrastructure, on the 10th of December, in Blitar, East Java, and showed he was pleased by referring that this type of infrastructure can be an example and also be applied in Timor-Leste.
The Head of Government said that the irrigation and electricity production technology, using water from the Wlingi Dam, is one of the best examples to apply in the country, because it can benefit the population that lives close to it.
“I was grateful to Indonesia, which allowed to make a comparative study on this dam. In the future we will work together with Indonesia in the construction of dam infrastructures”, pointed out Xanana Gusmão.
On the same occasion, the Director for Arboriculture and Horticulture, Gil Rangel da Cruz, referred that “in Timor-Leste there are 15 dams that are not optimized. Through this comparative study, I acquired more knowledge of how to use the dams that we have”.
He also highlighted that, with this example of development of the Wlingi Dam infrastructure, we expect to contribute to the Timor-Leste farmers’ capacity.
The Director of the Jasa Tirta I Company, Mr. Tjoek Waluyo Sublijanto, highlighted that “the comparative study done by the Timor-Leste Government, had the objective of learning how to develop and elaborate on irrigation management”.
Tjoek pointed out that, besides producing electricity, the Wlingi Dam also helps to control floods and the supplying channeled water for the rice fields.
In this visit the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Livestock, Valentino Varela, the Secretary of State for Arboriculture and Horticulture, Marcos da Cruz and by the Secretary of State for Defence, Júlio Tomás Pinto.