Chinese Harbor Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) has officially started construction of the Port of Tibar in Timor-Leste with the first blasts at a quarry to collect construction materials, the Chinese embassy in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste reported earlier this week.
According to their announcement, the official ceremony to launch the work took place on 15 July.
During the event, Chinese Ambassador in Timor-Leste, Xiao Jianguo , said: “I am very pleased to attend the launching ceremony of the quarry blasting for the Tibar Bay Port Project. As we know, there’s a regulation in Timor-Leste to ban, in general, all explosions, but special permission was given by Timor-Leste government to the project constructor, China Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. to use explosives in the earthwork for this project, which is essential and critical to ensure on-time success of the whole project.”
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 operating in areas related to infrastructure, added Jianguo.
Located about 10 kilometers west of Dili in the Bay of Tibar, the project also includes the participation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group.
The ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the government of Timor-Leste, including the Ministers of Transport and Communications, José Agostinho da Silva, of Agriculture and Fisheries, Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins and of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, as well as the Chinese ambassador in Dili, Xiao Jianguo.