DILI, 13 February 2025 (TATOLI) – South Korea’s DONGSUNG Engineering Co., Ltd. has concluded the feasibility study for the Dili Urban Water Supply Project.
The feasibility study of the water development project in the Dili Metropolitan Area includes a water resources development study for the Railaco River and Gleno Dam.
“Dongsung Engineering has concluded the feasibility study of the Dili Urban Water Supply Project,” said Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal.
The feasibility study was carried out between 2019 and 2020 and cost US$459,600.
Minister Marçal said that the Dili Urban Water Supply Project is a big investment: “Therefore, it requires consultation with relevant parties before implementation.”
He said: “The feasibility study report will be presented to the Board of Directors of the Infrastructure Fund (KAFI-Tetun) for recommendation in order to determine whether the proposed project is practical and viable.”
Meanwhile, the President of Be’e Timor-Leste (BTL, E.P.), Gustavo da Cruz, said that, according to the feasibility study report, the Dili Urban Water Supply Project is estimated to cost over US$300 million.
The project is expected to provide safe and reliable water to 36,200 households and commercial establishments, covering about 200,000 people, including 60,000 living in poverty in the west zone of Dili, the capital city.
The impact of the project is aligned with the government’s objective to connect all households in Dili to the water supply network by 2030. The water supply system should be improved to reduce leakages, install water meters and establish a billing system. The water provided should be of drinking water quality, according to Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030.
Currently there are three surface water intakes and nine groundwater deep wells with an installed capacity of 26,300 m3/day. The produced water is non-potable water and the supply is intermittently and at low pressure. The current infrastructure is inadequate to achieve the government’s development goals.
Dili Urban Water Supply Project is expected to construct new and upgrade water sources and treatment facilities with a combined capacity of 49,858 m3/day, which is sufficient to fulfill the expected mean daily demand in 2050. The project will expand the clean water reservoir capacity to 23,400 m3 and construct a new distribution system with a total length of 276 kilometers.
It’s recalled that in October 2022, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved US$127 million in loans to help Timor-Leste provide safe and reliable water in Dili.
TATOLI
