DILI, 26 november 2023 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s State-Owned Company in Electricity and Energy Sector (EDTL) revealed that almost all government ministries and institutions have not paid electricity bills arrears worth US$29 million since 2006.
In a meeting organized by EDTL with representatives of state ministries and agencies, EDTL authorities shared the fact sheets on electricity bill arrears and urged immediate payment.
“Today, we shared with them about how much electricity bills each ministry and agency has to pay. Almost all of them have not paid their bills since 2006,” said EDTL’s Commissioner of Corporate Services, Julio de Jesus Gonçalves, at Delta Nova Hall, in Dili, on friday.
He acknowledged that some ministries and agencies have not been able to pay their electricity bills due to lack of budget: “However, they have to pay and we will continue to send notification letters to remind them to make payments.”
The President Authority of Aileu Municipality, Abel da Conceição, said that he had always requested the money to pay the bills during the State Budget review, but it had always been canceled by the central government.
“We always present our proposal for the payment of the bills at each annual revision of the State Budget, but it is always canceled,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President Authority of Manufahi Municipality, Arantes Isaac said that Manufahi will pay its overdue electricity bills next year: “At the time of the State Budget Review, the central government had approved our proposal of US$10,000 for the payment of the bill.”
Arrear Amount in Electricity Bill:
|
No |
Ministries/Institutions |
Overdue Utility Bills (US$) |
|
1 |
Ministry of Finance |
US$ 606,277.62 |
|
2 |
Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion |
US$ 255,842.97 |
|
3 |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |
US$ 511,935.79 |
|
4 |
Ministry of Public Works |
US$ 386,738.00 |
|
5 |
Public Prosecutors |
US$ 131,924.20 |
|
6 |
Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice |
US$ 68,775.36 |
|
7 |
Secretary of State for Equality |
US$ 28,926.00 |
|
8 |
Secretary of State for Veterans |
US$ 75,429.68 |
|
9 |
Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment |
US$ 28,381.08 |
|
10 |
Ministry of Interior |
US$ 194,143.62 |
|
11 |
F-FDTL |
US$ 1,076,106.88 |
|
12 |
Ministry of Justice |
US$ 1,046,002.29 |
|
13 |
Ministry of Trade and Industry |
US$ 1,648,632.52 |
|
14 |
BTL, E.P |
US$ 6,065,466.65 |
|
15 |
National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL) |
US$ 1,651,745.24 |
|
16 |
Minister of State Administration |
US$ 693,640.88 |
|
17 |
SAMES |
US$ 262,481.24 |
|
18 |
Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment |
US$ 401,495.60 |
|
19 |
Minister of Agriculture |
US$ 366,324.00 |
|
20 |
PNTL (Special Police Unit) |
US$ 1,426,828.86 |
|
21 |
Dili Municipality |
US$ 397,553.92 |
|
22 |
Ministry of Health |
US$ 1,734,272.62 |
|
23 |
Government Palace |
US$ 1,509,720.00 |
|
24 |
Institute of Equipment Management (IGE) |
US$ 124,937.28 |
|
25 |
Public Service Commission |
US$ – |
|
26 |
National Center for Professional Training and Employment |
US$ 188,419.40 |
|
27 |
Ministry of Transportation and Communications |
US$ 4,021,400.78 |
|
28 |
Ministry of Education |
US$ 676,478.96 |
|
29 |
Centro Nacional Chega! |
US$ 39,814.20 |
|
30 |
Secretary of State for Youth and Sports (No longer exist) |
US$ 57,450.52 |
|
31 |
National Elections Commission |
US$ 283,929.60 |
|
32 |
Court of Appeal |
US$ 80,815.88 |
|
33 |
Anti-Corruption Comission |
US$ 11,756.40 |
|
34 |
Centro Incobadora Industria Artezenato |
US$ 3,760.08 |
|
35 |
Dili District Court |
US$ 25,038.00 |
|
36 |
Palacio Nobre Lahane |
US$ 21,859.20 |
|
37 |
Presidency of the Council of Ministers |
US$ 6,625.80 |
|
38 |
CPLP Office |
US$ 10,032.00 |
|
39 |
Aileu Muinicipality |
US$ 197,855.94 |
|
40 |
Ainaro Municipality |
US$ 207,777.85 |
|
41 |
Baucau Municipality |
US$ 360,384.24 |
|
42 |
Bobonaro Municipality |
US$ 572,909.34 |
|
43 |
Covalima Municipality |
US$ 743,999.00 |
|
44 |
Ermera Municipality |
US$ 149,181.52 |
|
45 |
Lautem Municipality |
US$ 516,583.35 |
|
46 |
Liquiça Municipality |
US$ 133,557.36 |
|
47 |
Manatuto Municipality |
US$ 59,071.00 |
|
48 |
Manufahi Municipality |
US$ 170,151.22 |
|
49 |
Viqueque Municipality |
US$ 359,140.68 |
|
TOTAL |
US$ 29,591,574.62 |
|
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
