Dili, Oct. 6, 2026 (Lusa) - The state-owned company Eletricidade de Timor-Leste (EDTL) and the World Bank on Tuesday signed an agreement to support the development of a wind energy project aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.
«Today we have signed this agreement so that the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) can provide in-depth technical assistance with the implementation plan for the wind energy project,» EDTL's chairman, Paulo da Silva, told journalists in Dili.
The wind energy project will be implemented in Lariguto, in the municipality of Viqueque, and Oe Leo, in the municipality of Bobonaro.
David Freedman, the representative of the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC), explained that the agreement sets out the framework for the IFC's technical assistance to EDTL, with a view to preparing wind power projects to be developed through private-sector investment.
The IFC and EDTL have already begun the feasibility study, and a tower has been installed to measure wind speed.
According to Freedman, the project – for which a tender is due to be launched next year – will help EDTL and the Government to achieve the targets and objectives set out in the medium-term plan for 2027–2030, which was approved and launched last week.
«We are preparing a detailed plan for this project. Once it is finalised, we will launch the tender and, through an open and competitive process, we will be able to attract investors to develop the project, similar to the solar photovoltaic model that was recently launched in Laleia, in the municipality of Manatuto,» concluded Freedman.
The Laleia Solar Photovoltaic Project is one of the largest private investments ever made in Timor-Leste and will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels for electricity supply.
The project will be implemented under an Independent Power Producer model by Manatuto Renewable Power, established by ITOCHU of Japan and EDF of France, and will have a solar generation capacity of 72 megawatts.
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