Following the ceremony of FALINTIL’s 38th anniversary, on the 20th of August, the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão inaugurated the Betano Power Plant, the second electrical powerplant part of Timor-Leste’s National Electrification Project, with the capacity of 130 MW, located at suco Betano, Same subdistrict, Manufahi district.
During his speech, Xanana Gusmão reminded that “this project went through a feasibility study back in 2008. In 2009, the National Parliament approved the budget allocated for this mega-project, as a basic infrastructure. This was followed by the construction of towers and transmission lines throughout the territory of Timor-Leste. This project went through various difficulties, but due to the company and to the technicians who implemented it, it is a successful project”.
“Right now, there are transmission towers all across the country. The high voltage transmission lines cover a total of 715 km, the medium-voltage lines about 2,294 km and the low voltage lines cover 255 km. This is still not enough to reach all families and so the work continues. This has demonstrated to the people that their 24 years of sacrifice resulted in light in their homes”, highlighted the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also added that “the presence of electricity in each home will contribute to changing economic conditions and the daily life of the people. Therefore, the former President of the Republic made an appeal to the people, in order for them to take advantage of the electricity to develop their lives and their creativity, also requesting the heads of suco, administrators and authorities of Timor-Leste, to control the use of electricity within the community”.
“Often, we see that even in broad daylight lamps remain lit. The government has already begun to institute the payment of tariffs. I am sure that from the moment that tariffs are paid, everyone will reduce the spending of the electricity”, assured Xanana Gusmão.
The ceremony was attended by the President, Taur Matan Ruak, the President of the National Parliament, Vicente Guterres, the President of the Court of Appeal, Cláudio Ximenes, WIKA’s company representative, members of the Government and the National Parliament and the community of Manufahi.