DÍLI, 22 July 2026 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste has signed a 30-year surface rights agreement with Manatuto Renewables Power S.A. (MRP), paving the way for the development of a solar photovoltaic power plant and battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Manatuto Municipality.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Justice in Dili, grants the developer the legal right to use state-owned land in Laleia to construct a 75-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and an 85-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS).
The agreement was signed by Minister of Justice Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai and Manatuto Renewables Power S.A., which represents a consortium comprising EDF Renewables, ITOCHU Corporation and I-Environment Investments.
The 30-year surface rights agreement establishes the legal framework for implementing the renewable energy project, which the government expects will deliver long-term economic, social and environmental benefits while advancing the country’s sustainable development goals.
The government has designated the project as a strategic national investment to expand renewable energy generation, strengthen energy security and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hornai said the agreement underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening legal certainty, promoting good governance, and maintaining a stable, transparent and predictable investment environment.
He said the project would play a significant role in modernizing Timor-Leste’s energy sector by increasing renewable electricity generation, improving national energy resilience and accelerating the transition to cleaner sources of power.
Hornai stressed that the investment sends a strong signal to the international business community that Timor-Leste remains committed to providing a secure, competitive and predictable investment climate capable of attracting strategic projects, diversifying the economy and creating employment opportunities.
He expressed appreciation to the World Bank and other development partners for their technical assistance in preparing and finalizing the legal framework for the agreement. The support helped ensure that negotiations and the contract complied with international standards while protecting the interests of both the state and investors.
The signing ceremony was attended by EDTL Executive Committee President Paulo da Silva, Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services Júlio de Jesus Gonçalves, World Bank Group representative David Fredman of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), along with representatives of development partners and the project consortium.
Earlier this month, Manatuto Renewables Power S.A. Executive Managing Director Mark G. Argar said construction is expected to begin in August 2026 after the project reaches financial close.
The US$107 million project is scheduled for completion and commercial operation in June 2028.
TATOLI
