DILI, 22 september 2023 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Petroleum, Francisco da Costa Monteiro swore in the new chairman of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), National Minerals Authority (NMA), Timor-Leste Geoscience Institute (TLGI), Timor Gap and Murak Rai Timor.
The newly appointed chairmen for a four-year term are:
- Gualdino do Carmo da Silva, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Petroleum Authority, I.P. (NPA).
- Rafael Danilson Magno de Araújo, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Minerals Authority, I.P (NMA).
- Job Brites dos Santos, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Geosciences of Timor-Leste, I.P. (TLGI).
- Rui Maria Alves Soares, as Chairman of the Board of Directors and, inherently, Chairman of the Executive Committee of TIMOR GAP, E.P. – Timor Gás & Petróleo, E.P. (“TIMOR GAP”).
- José Manuel Gonçalves, as Chairman of the Board of Directors and, inherently, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Murak Rai Timor, E.P.
These appointments and reforms are aimed at revitalizing Timor-Leste’s petroleum sector, restoring its dynamism, and establishing relationships of trust with all players, partners, counterparts, and other stakeholders, in line with the priorities set by the IX Constitutional Government.
These appointments were made on the basis of good reputation, integrity, academic and professional training, experience in senior positions, and technical expertise in the oil, gas, and mineral resources sectors. These characteristics are essential for the effective performance of their duties in their respective organizations, as part of the public interest service they provide to the state.
The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, in his speech at the inauguration of the IX Constitutional Government, emphasized that it was a priority to “immediately restructure the management of TIMOR GAP and ANPM, to ensure greater efficiency in the oil sector, which is crucial for the country’s development.”
Gusmão also highlighted the importance of this sector for national development during the presentation of the Government Program to the National Parliament and guaranteed that “the IX Government is truly committed to bringing the pipeline to Timor-Leste, proving to the world that this is an economically viable and safe solution.”
He added that: “the development of the South Coast will be a center of activity in the field of oil and natural gas” and that “the whole country will benefit from this project, not only because of the increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but also because of the economic dynamics provided by the productivity of various economic factors.”
In this context of reforms in the oil and mineral resources sector, the Council of Ministers approved five draft Decree-Laws at its meeting on 16 August, including the restructuring of TIMOR GAP, E.P. to bring it into line with international best practices and increase transparency and credibility, the reorganization of the National Petroleum Authority to focus exclusively on the oil and gas sector, the creation of the National Minerals Authority, responsible for regulating the mineral resources sector, for the extinction of the National Mining Company, S.A and the creation of Murak Rai Timor, E.P., with the aim of instilling greater efficiency and transparency in the mineral sector, and finally, the upgrading of the Institute of Petroleum and Geology to promote research in geosciences and technologies.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new chairmen of these public institutions in the petroleum and mineral resources sector was chaired by Petroleum Minister, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, at the Delta Nova Hall, in Dili, on Friday.
In his speech at the swearing-in ceremony, Minister Monteiro congratulated the newly appointed officials and called on their dedication and professionalism to bring significant development to the sector: “You all now have a great responsibility rests on your shoulders. Wishing you all the success on your new posts.”
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
