A total of 141 villages across East Timor are set to gain access to electricity after the government signed contracts with 51 companies on Tuesday to implement large-scale electrification projects.
According to a statement from the public utility company Empresa de Eletricidade de Timor-Leste (EDTL), the contracts are valued at $11.73 million (approximately €10 million) and are expected to benefit 7,201 families across the municipalities of Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Dili, Ermera, Liquiçá, Lautém, Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque. Construction and installation efforts are scheduled to continue through the beginning of 2027.
The Timorese government plans to further expand this initiative by signing an additional 20 contracts for public electricity infrastructure in the coming weeks. Minister of Public Works Samuel Marçal stated that the signing of these agreements demonstrates a firm governmental commitment to ensuring a reliable power supply for the entire national territory.
The current package includes the installation of 130.6 kilometers of medium-voltage lines and 377.42 kilometers of low-voltage networks to reach isolated communities.
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In addition to expanding the grid, the government is looking toward sustainable energy alternatives to stabilize the national economy. Minister Marçal announced that a new project to construct solar photovoltaic plants with a capacity between 72 and 80 megawatts will be implemented in the coming months.
This move is designed to reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on imported fuels and generate significant savings for the state. Marçal also revealed plans to launch tenders for wind energy projects next year and a specific solar energy supply project for the island of Ataúro in the near future.
