• PRIME-MINISTER –TAUR MATAN RUAK VISITS BAYU UNDAN PLATFORM

 Dili, February 6th 2019: His Excellency the Prime-Minister Taur Matan Ruak accompanied by the President of National Petroleum and Mineral Authority (ANPM), Gualdino da Silva, by the Vice-President of the Drilling Operation in the Supply Chain from ConocoPhillips, David Boyle, by the ConocoPhillips Country Manager in Timor-Leste, José Lobato, and his team, were visiting Bayu Undan Platform, in the Timor Sea.

The objective of this visit was to know deeply the information related to the exploration process in Bayu Undan itself, which is consider as a Timor-Leste’s barn, because it brings income to our nation and support the State structure.

After making the visit to the Bayu Undan Platform, the Head of VIII Constitutional Government committed to keep continuing the petroleum industry, particularly in Greater Sunrise, since, at this time, there are no other industries that can replace it to support and develop the State in next 10 to 15 years’ coming, that is why the Government will lead all resources that our State has, to uphold petroleum industry operation.

“Timor-Leste is committed to keep continuing and invest the petroleum industry, because there are no other industries that can replace the petroleum industry in short and medium term to support our State in the next 10-15 years, that is why we have to invest all of our energy, resources to encouraged and supporting the operation of this industry. Besides, in the meantime, we would also like to develop other areas, diversify our economy, support our economic growth, create jobs for our citizens with one only goal, that is to improve our citizens daily lives, create a lot of jobs opportunities, so, the Timorese people will use this opportunity for developing themselves and their lives”, Taur Matan Ruak said.                     

Thence, the Head of Government requested to the Timorese to look at the petroleum industry as a fundamental opportunity that will bring great economic benefits to Timor-Leste. The Head of Government acknowledged that the employment opportunities were scarce, however he encouraged Timorese to have hope, most importantly, being persistent and never give up, because the future will be better than today.

Meanwhile, in this occasion, the Prime of Minister also asked to the Timorese that are currently working at Bayu-Undan Platform to learn more and prepare themselves better, through the work experience they having for the a new great project that is coming, the Greater Sunrise project.

“I am very pleased with this trip, because I had the opportunity to see that there are many Timorese working here. This is the first step in learning, self-improvement to be better for the future. I express my gratitude to Conoco for providing opportunities to the Timorese, helping them through practice and through their own experience, so that they can better prepared and be able to implement their knowledge in the future, such as in the Greater Sunrise project, because Timor-Leste is determined to continue the petroleum industry “, the Head of Government told Timorese workers at the Bayu-Undan.

On the other hand, the Head of Government also expressed his proud and gratitude to the managers of ConocoPhillips, and partners, who have been doing good management in Bayu-Undan Platform during the operation period, ensuring that there were no major incidents that could affect the operational activities. PM also requested to ConocoPhillips to continue to cooperate in this partnership with the government of Timor-Leste, namely with the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals (MPM), ANPM and Timor Gap.

In the seven-hour visit to the Bayu-Undan Platform, the Prime of Minister, accompanied by the ConocoPhillips team and the ANPM President, observed the exploration process and listened the experiences of the Timorese workers in this area. They also held meetings about renewal of negotiations and toured the Plataforma central plant. This visit ended with a lunch and photo session with the workers.

The visit participants included the wife of the Prime Minister, Isabel da Costa Ferreira, the Head of PM Office, Afonso H.F. Corte-Real, and the Vice-President for Sustainable Development, Communication and Foreign Affairs of ConocoPhillips, Kayleen Ewin, among others. END