In response to LUSA publication of the TG Media Release (01-09-20)

In the LUSA publication of TG Media Release, the new management of TIMOR GAP has accused that there is no Feasibility Studies for the Tasi Mane Project in an effort to twist the issue from Greater Sunrise Pipeline Viability issue to now the Tasi Mane Project issue.

Despite this twisting, which only shows either the current management led by Mr Antonio de Sousa’s total incapability in articulating and advising the Minister of Petroleum the existence of these reports or they have deliberately ignored those reports, perhaps, in the bid to advance their new political ambitions and plans: - NOT SUPPORTING THE PIPELINE FROM GREATER SUNRISE TO TIMOR-LESTE. This can be understood because Fretilin, which is the party of the current Minister of Petroleum and President of TIMOR GAP, voted against Maritime Boundary Treaty and the changes of Petroleum Fund Law for the acquisitions of the Greater Sunrise participating interest by TIMOR GAP. That acquisition decision was important to ensure higher revenue from the project to Timor-Leste (as it added another revenue stream through company’s take), and chances to influence and directing the fate/direction of the Greater Sunrise pipeline to Timor-Leste).

With the recent restructuring in the sector institution that led to the resignation of His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão as the Special Government Representative for Negotiation of Greater Sunrise Development, and several statements by the Minister about the moves towards possible changes of LNG Plant location to the north coast of the country instead of the south coast, which will make the costs for the projects higher and affect the project schedules, and well as the suspension of works/studies relating to the downstream activities, make it all obvious that the current Minister and his technical team (perhaps under the Fretilin direction) do not support the plan for bringing the pipeline from Greater Sunrise to Timor-Leste. If they do, the actions on the ground certainly do not support their statements. The mere fact of them ignoring and denying that there is any feasibility studies, while they know very well that the company (TIMOR GAP) and the Ministry over the past 12 years have done and invested lots of money on technical and commercial studies, raises the question of professional and political honesty by the current leadership the Petroleum Sector. Instead of reading and studying and defending the reports and studies produced by Timor-Leste institutions, these people, rather conveniently, seeking to believe only reports of documents produced by external parties or institution or companies, which the previous Government had challenged their accuracy ad correctness. For instance, the current management (and perhaps the Minister too) only refer to the report “independent Consultant”, which was hired in 2017/ 2018 by UN Conciliation Commission in the bid to recommend to Timor-Leste and Australia to consider the development of Greater Sunrise. The report was rejected by Timor-Leste, through His Excellency’s Kay Rala Xanana’s Letter to the UN Commission because it was biased towards companies (and Australia)’ interests. The questions that every Timorese should ask will be: why a new Petroleum Leadership believes more on externally produced reports and ignored the reports and studies at their possession, which were produced by Timor-Leste’s institutions and with the Government money?

There are plenty of technical and commercial study reports

There are hundreds if not thousands of reports have been produced over the past few years by the previous Petroleum management team out of the very detail and high quality studies performed by reputable international consultants together with TIMOR GAP/Ministry, these reports include the following few list:

In addition, there is also ACIL ALLEN Consultant Report Commissioned by TIMOR GAP on the Greater Sunrise (Timor LNG) and Tasi Mane Project Economic Impact Assessments, 2016.

It is outrageous to see that the current leadership in the Petroleum Sector has chosen to lie to the public if they said there is no Studies and reports, and selectively only put their faith and believe on reports that are not produced by TIMOR GAP and /or petroleum sector institutions. One would have to question their intention of doing that?

Stop me to talk to the public and media is anti-transparency!

In its Media Release, the current Management (may be at the direction of the Minister?) is trying to intimidate me to not talking to media or public. This only shows that the current leadership is anti-Transparency! Why do they need to hide the crucial information from the public? If they suspect believe that the Pipeline to Timor-Leste is not viable, they have to make public such information and the technical and commercial numbers behind that! I, and the previous Petroleum Management ( and the Government) had said that the Pipeline must come to Timor-Leste, and we presented the technical and commercial facts out of the studies we did. Where are their studies and basis if they do not believe on the previous studies?

The current management also mentioned that I did not have any authorization from the management to speak on behalf of the company, and accusing me of “leaking” the company secrets.

Indeed, I had not sought for company permission nor I intend to do so. I had not nor do I intend to speak on behalf of the company. I speak on my behalf, a free Timorese citizen, who happens to be an Ex-President of TIMOR GAP; I should be able to speak out my thoughts, political and technical views, and my knowledge and experiences. I do not need any permission from anyone except myself to do so! Many of the information I revealed are publicly available information which TIMOR GAP under my leadership had made them public through presentation in the public forum (seminar and workshops and meetings), in Parliamentary Session and reporting, in the TIMOR GAP annual reports etc. That said, why the current Petroleum leadership is allergic about that and insisting that I should not make public those numbers under the pretext of “company secret”. Didn’t they say of the current restructuring of the petroleum institutions is to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and TRANSPARENCY? Why now they are worried if someone (me) speaks transparently about these numbers and reports? I challenge the Minister and the new President of TIMOR GAP to have a public Television Debate on the same issue and how to secure the Pipeline to Timor-Leste.

The new management is also trying to threaten me by saying that I should focus on attending to the Audit Court auditing and investigations that is going on at the moment in TIMOR GAP under the request of the current management. The Court of Audit has the right to do any audit to any Government entities, including TIMOR GAP at any moment. In addition to the right of the Audit Court to do the audits, TIMOR GAP has consistently, every year, do the external Audit of its account, since 2012 and present them in the Council of Ministers, send them to the Audit Court for Verification, published them in the Journal da Republica and in TIMOR GAP’s website, distribute them to every Minister and Parliament members and President of Republic, every year!

The Court of Audit has done their verification audit to TIMOR GAP Annual Accounts and Reports in the past, and hence there is no reason why we (the past management, which includes the current President) should not attend to the audit request when they come forward; But this should not prevent us to tell the public the right things, and in particular to inform the public that Timor-Leste has done a lot of studies to prove that Pipeline from the Greater Sunrise gas field is technically feasible to Timor-Leste and economically viable, and advantageous to Timor-Leste’s socio-economic development. All that is needed now is a political will, a firm, strong, visionary and strategic leadership to negotiate with our adversaries, something that is missing in the current sector’s leadership!

Francisco Monteiro - Ex- President of TIMOR GAP

Author: Raimundos OkiWebsite: https://www.oekusipost.comEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Xefe Redasaun & Editor

• Timor-Leste’s democratic strength belies an uncertain economic future Thursday, 29 June 2023 11:23
• The former leader of Santa Cruz massacre supports Xanana's party in parliamentary elections Thursday, 06 April 2023 20:08
• UN calls for game-changing action to stem global water crisis Thursday, 23 March 2023 12:02
• Australian diplomat inform AUKUS treaty to Xanana Tuesday, 21 March 2023 22:52
• UN gathering in Doha concludes, ushering in new era of solidarity for world’s LDC’s Friday, 10 March 2023 03:32