Timor-Leste’s future Tibar Bay Port has taken a new development step as part of the Asia Pacific country’s first-ever public private partnership arrangement (PPP).
Namely, China Harbour Engineering Co., that will undertake the construction works, held a quarry blasting ceremony to collect materials for the new port in mid-July.
The event follows an August 2018 ceremony in which concessionaire Bolloré Ports started construction works on the port.
Back then, it was said that the project, with envisioned construction of a two-berth 630-meter pier and associated cargo, customs and administrative buildings, would take three years to complete.
France’s Bolloré Group is the holder of a 30-year, USD 490 million concession contract for Tibar Bay Port.
“In recent years, Timor-Leste witnesses an increasing investment in road upgrading and harbors & airports construction, which have made for great changes and achievements,” Xiao Jianguo, Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, commented.
“Infrastructure is the key area of China Timor-Leste practical cooperation, in which Chinese Enterprises have actively and widely participated. At present, there are approximately 20 Chinese enterprises operated in areas related to infrastructure.”
With a capacity to handle 750,000 TEUs annually, the new facility is expect to ease congestion at the country’s main harbor in the capital city of Dili. It will be located at Tibar Bay, around 12 kilometers from the capital.
World Maritime News Staff