DILI, 21 march 2023 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, on monday, launched its first licensing round (mineral tender) for mineral exploration, offering a total of 49 concession areas for investment.
The first Mineral Tender provides exploration opportunities for any interested natural or legal person(s) to discover mineral resources potentials in the 49 concession areas on offer and within zones open for mineral exploration.
These concessions are situated across areas with mineral potential in the territory of Timor-Leste.
This first mineral tender was launched by the Vice Prime Minister, José Maria dos Reis, accompanied by the Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Víctor da Conceição Soares, and the President of the National Petroleum and Minerals Authority (ANPM), Florentino Soares Ferreira.
During the launching, Vice Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue the effort to diversify Timor-Leste’s economy beyond oil and gas and commend the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals and Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais (ANPM) for its commitment to give continuity to public policies with a focus on national interests.
Minister Soares said that the launch of the mineral tender marks another achievement in Timor-Leste’s mineral sector: “Mineral exploration is fundamental for the country’s economic development.”
“The government of Timor-Leste, under the leadership of Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, has taken the mineral sector as one of the key sectors to generate revenue for the economic development of the country,” Soares said in his remarks at the launching ceremony held at the Novo Turismo meeting room, in Dili.
Soares encouraged mining companies that are interested in investing in Timor-Leste to adhere to good environmental practices for the protection of different sectors of the environment, including air, land, and water, to avoid negative effects on the environment that may result from mining activities.
At the same venue, the President of the National Petroleum and Minerals Authority (ANPM), Florentino Soares Ferreira considered the launch of the country’s first licensing round for mineral exploration as a very important milestone in Timor-Leste’s journey as a state.
“Within these 49 concession areas, each block is 50km2 in size. This area comprises 20% of the total mineral exploration in the territory of Timor-Leste,” Ferreira said.
Ferreira believes that mining would contribute immensely to the economic development of the country: “Through mining investment, Timor-Leste will be able to generate revenue for the state, create employment opportunities for Timorese, and provide opportunities for the Timorese people to gain more experience with mining activities.”
Ferreira pointed out that to participate in the bidding process, all interested parties must first pre-qualify.
The highlights of the pre-qualification requirements include financial qualification, legal qualification, technical qualification, local community engagement, and local content qualification.
Building on the promising geology and dataset from the most recent territory-wide Airborne Geophysical Survey, Timor-Leste welcomes all investors, particularly those who have patiently waited in the last few years for this moment to access these key data and information to facilitate assessments and decisions.
Successful bidders will have access to benefits offered under applicable regimes, including competitive mining fiscal terms, assurance of preferential rights throughout mining activities’ life cycle as well as other benefits and assurances granted under the Mining Code.
ANPM will carry out acreage promotions in strategic destinations to ensure that the opportunities are known to investors, particularly those from the nearby region.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
