DILI, 18 may 2023 (TATOLI) – The construction of the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport relies on a bank guarantee from the selected company, PT Waskita Karya, that has not been released.
This matter was revealed by The Minister of Finance, Rui Gomes, in line with the construction of Nicolau Lobato Dili, International Lobato.
“Based on the calendar, the laying of the foundation stone was scheduled for the 16th of this month, but this implied a prior contractual agreement with the company, but if the company does not issue a bank guarantee, we have no legal basis to sign the agreement.” Minister of Finance, Rui Gomes told Tatoli in Ai-Tarak laran, Wednesday.
Furthermore, Gomes added, “If there is no formal agreement between the Eighth Constitutional Government and the company, the Ninth Constitutional Government will assume responsibility and control”.
Previously in February, the representative of the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation in Timor-Leste, Ito Mimpei, and Rui Gomes, had signed, a financial contribution agreement of 37.5 million American dollars, within the scope of the requalification project from Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport.
Rui Gomes informed that “for the development of the airport’s various facilities, the Government decided to follow a hybrid model of Public-Private Partnership, given the nature of the mechanism that involves multiple sources of financing, such as loans, grants and funds from the Budget of the State”.
For the construction of the airport, Timor-Leste resorted to a loan of US$135 million from the Asian Development Bank to improve the extension of the runway, the construction of the terminal, the aeronautical ground lighting system, the traffic control tower, and the administrative building.
The country has also signed a £45 million loan agreement and a £28.4 million grant agreement from the Australian Government through the Australian Pacific Infrastructure Finance Facility to finance new rescue, salvage, and combat facilities. For aviation fires, road accesses, car parks, public lighting, and the safety fence of fuel tanks.
According to Rui Gomes, “the Government of Timor-Leste will also provide US$52 million through the Infrastructure Fund for the relocation of affected families and other civil construction installations”.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
