DILI, 27 september 2023 (TATOLI) – Chairman of the Administrative Council and Executive Commission of Murak Rai Timor, E.P. José Manuel Gonçalves, said that the main plan and priority that the institution will focus on is establishing a team and installing equipment to be able to design a development plan for the mining sector.
“The government has just opened the opportunity for public contracts, which will be closed in a short time; therefore, we will carry out a more detailed evaluation so that the company can have its own mining block to carry out research and achieve commercial development potential in the next few years,” said the Head of a Government-Owned Company in Tatoli, following his recent inauguration.
According to the statutory decree, Murak Rai Timor is responsible for working in the mining sector and will explore Timor-Leste’s richness.
“The scope of mining activities is very broad, from exploration to production, processing, sales, and even mine closure activities,” he added.
In addition, they are also responsible for engaging in consulting activities to support their own mining activities, such as consulting services, and engaging directly with other companies to provide tools for the implementation of mining activities.
He said that Timor-Leste has great mining potential because research results show that there are big signs for mining with high prices, such as gold, silver, and other non-metallic minerals such as marble and lime, which can be converted into cement.
The mining sector has little economic value but has great use in construction materials.
In 2017, through a Council of Ministers meeting, the government approved a legal decree proposal submitted by the Minister of State Administration and Minister of Mineral Resources, Mariano Asanami Sabino (VII Government), regarding the status of the Murak Rai Timor, SA, company so that it could operate.
This company will operate with the state capital, with the aim of carrying out mining activities including research, evaluation, development, exploration, mineral processing in the mineral refinery processing process, and resource trading.
Murak Rai Timor will be a commercial entity with private rights and public capital combined. This action is part of the government’s strategy to build institutions that stimulate the development of economic sectors and have great potential to contribute to vital economic diversification.
On June 6, 2017, the law establishing the National Mining Company was revised and approved only after the suggestion of the President of the Republic to conform to the General Regime of Supply. In the initial stage, the government will provide a budget of $400,000 to assist development in the process of diversifying income for the future.
It is known that José Manuel Gonçalves was appointed on friday, february 22, 2023, for a five-year term, from 2023 to 2027.
Journalist: José Belarmino de Sá
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
