Dili, July 9,2026
The coordinating minister for Economic Affairs, represented by the General Coordinator, Jorge Rui de Carvalho Martins, as a member participated in the 2nd and 3rd meetings of the Environmental Impact Assessment Commission (EIAC) to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) documents related to the proposed construction of a Fuel Storage Reservoir by the national company Esperança Timor Oan (ETO). The meeting was held at the National Petroleum Authority (ANP) building, City 8, Manleuna, Dili, Timor-Leste.
The purpose of this meeting is to evaluate the Terms of Reference (TOR) document, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) regarding the Construction of the Fuel Storage Reservoir to be built by the company SACOM Energia Lda , the meeting also include a detailed presentation on the ETO project, included the aims, the potential environmental and social impacts, and the mitigation measures outlined in the project documents.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Commission Team was established under Decree Law No. 39/2022, the first amendment to Decree Law No. 05/2011. Its objective is to provide technical assessments and compile environmental impact information for the purpose of reviewing and verifying the Terms of Reference within project documentation such as the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), prior to approval by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPMR).
Following this technical meeting, a site visit to the project location and a public consultation on the proposal will also be conducted. The objectives are to directly observe the project site and carry out public consultation with local communities, authorities, and all stakeholders, to hear their concerns, and to provide comprehensive briefings to the affected communities. It will also ensure that the infrastructure development is carried out in accordance with the environmental and safety regulations that are in force in the country.
The General Coordinator of MCAE stated that the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Tourism and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Interior, the Civil Protection Authority (APC), the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Works, hold key responsibilities in relation to environmental impact assessment. Regarding the site visit, we have already reviewed the terms of reference, environmental impact risks, and environmental management. These documents have been submitted by the company to the government, and they must be technically reviewed in all aspects and commented on. We must identify what should be excluded and what should be incorporated to further enhance the documents prior to finalization. This team is required to complete the final documents within the next three (3) months.
From this month through October, we should already have a complete set of documents before making decision on what will constitute the company’s responsibility regarding environmental impact matters categorized under Category A. Therefore, it is essential for the company to work closely with all relevant entities, particularly the government, to assess both long-term and medium-term impacts, as well as the immediate impacts. We must also identify issues that require assessment from the outset – specifically during what we refer to as the pre-construction phase, as we are doing now – to provide feedback to the company on the procedures they must pay careful attention to before commencing construction.
There are several adjustments that we will communicate to the company’s technical team, who have already submitted the Terms of Reference, the Environmental Impact Analysis, and the Environmental Management Plan. Moving forward, we will conduct a further review based on our current field assessment to determine what additional facilities they need to incorporate into their existing infrastructure.
Previously, they submitted three (3) documents, namely the Terms of Reference, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Environmental Management Plan. Therefore, together with the technical team, we have already provided numerous suggestions, particularly regarding changes to the government.
The representative from ETO presented the positive impacts of this project, particularly regarding the assurance of national fuel storage capacity, the creation of employment opportunities for youth, and contributions to local economic development. He also noted that the project provides an opportunity for communities to voice their opinions and raise issues that require proper attention from the company during and after the commencement of construction, as stated by the General Coordinator in Liquisa.