Timor-Leste

Client: Ministry of Infrastructure (MIS), also on behalf of the respective Secretaries of State for Electricity, Water and Urbanization, for Energy Policy, and for the Environment.
NVE Mandate: Assistance to Government of Timor-Leste towards institutional strength­ening of the Water Resources and Power Sectors, as well as facilitating physical develop­ment and improved operation of selected hydropower projects.
Contract Value/ Duration: MNOK 50 for Phase 3 of the cooperation, covering the period September 2009 – September 2014.
Type of Activities: Advisory services, incl. coordination and supervision of con­sultants; Institutional development and capacity building, incl. staff training and education programmes, for sector institu­tions; Support towards enhanced physical water/ electricity infrastructure.

Work Completed 2010: Key outputs during 2010:

• HYDATA established as the hydrological database with regular input of data
• New hydrological stations established.
• Tender documents for the Iralalaru HPP finalized and presented.
• Staff training: English courses held for staff members; Establish­ment of Human Resource Working Group to coordinate scholarships.
• 30 trained rainfall readers officially employed by the National Directorate for Water Resource Management (NDWRM).

Work in Progress 2010: Ongoing activities to be continued in 2011:

•  Repair works/ rehabilitation on Gariuai micro-HPP.
• Consultancy work for the Hydropower Master Plan for Timor-Leste, and Feasibility Studies for the Maliana and Atsabe HPPs.
• Scholarship programme: Selection of candidates to be enrolled in courses prioritized under the cooperation.
• Consultancy work to establish a Water Resource Law for Timor-Leste and assistance to the Transboundary River Dialogue with Indonesia.
• Continued work related to hydrology/ water resources monitoring.
• Workshops/seminars, field work, training and education programmes, preparation of documentation, procurement services, advisory services, supervision of consultants and coordination/management.

Background:
The cooperation with Timor-Leste started with a request from the then President Alkatiri in December 2001 for Norwegian assistance within the energy sector. The request was considered favourably by Norad, and Phase 1 of the institutional cooperation between ministries in Timor-Leste and NVE started early 2003.
 

Activities/ Outputs:
During 2010 the following were achieved:

• Hydrology and water resources moni­toring: Enhanced capacity for hydrology management; Several new rainfall gauging stations installed; Potential sites for new hydrological gauging stations identified; Hydrological database, HYDATA, in operation under consolidated management; Personnel trained for operation of database; Entering of hydrological data into database continued.
• Legal Assistance: Lier Consulting was selected, after tendering in accordance with Norwegian procedures, to render services to NDWRM for development of a draft Water Resource Law for Timor-Leste; Contract also encompassing assistance on the Transbound­ary River Dialogue with Indonesia. The Con­sultancy commenced in December, 2010.
• Studies and physical works regarding hydropower development: After interna­tional tendering consulting company NOR­PLAN was selected to prepare the Hydropower Master Plan for Timor-Leste and to carry out Feasibility Studies for the Atsabe and Mali­ana HPPs. Draft Feasibility Report for Atsabe with subsequent consultations was finalized during December, 2010. Tender documents for Iralalaru Hydropower Plant was finalized in February and presented in Dili. Repair works for the Gariuai mini hydropower plant continued.
• Capacity building and training: Eng­lish courses held for staff from cooperating institutions; 3 Timorese officials participated in the ICH course Hydropower and the Envi­ronment, Trondheim in Norway; Other train­ing activities continued (on-the-job, courses/ seminars, external studies); Two NDWRM officials attending Master studies abroad with programme support; Workshop arranged by NVE on hydrological data collection, held in November 2010 for 20 rainfall readers.
• Various coordination and management tasks: Resident Adviser and Education & Training Coordinator continued their work throughout 2010. A new accounting system was established and in-house personnel trained. Regular consultation meetings between NVE and MIS/ NDWRM; Cooperation with the Norwegian Petroleum Sector actors in Timor-Leste established to coordinate capacity building activities.

Results/Outcome:
The long-term cooperation on energy and water resources has had a profound positive impact on Timor-Leste’s ability to manage and develop its resources in these fields. To-day NDWRM is the main agency in Timor-Leste responsible for hydrological measurements and data-collection. NDWRM’s strengthened position as a resource institution within the water resource and energy sector is demonstrated through their daily involvement with other authorities/ institutions, as well as with donors, requesting data, professional advice and cooperation in these areas.

Reportinging of activities, outputs and results based upon defined indicators has been significantly improved during the last year.

The State Secretary for Energy Policy and NDWRM are actively involved in the development ofthe Hydropower Master Plan for Timor-Leste. This document is expected to become an impor­tant tool for continued and sustainable development of the hydropower resources in Timor-Leste.

Moreover, the request for NVE’s involvement in the preparation of a new Water Resource Law is a further proof of mutual trust and respect built during 8 years of close cooperation.