Media Release

AGREEMENT TO EXPLORE MANGANESE RESOURCES IN THE AREA OF NIPANE AND PASSABE LOCATED IN THE OE-CUSSE AMBENO SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

Following the publication of the Government Resolution No. 7/2018, 4^th April, the Government of Timor-Leste represented by His Excellency, The Minister of State and Minister for Mineral Resources, Mr. Mariano Assanami Sabino has signed an agreement with PEAK EVEREST MINING, LIMITADA (INVESTOR), a company incorporated and existing under the laws of Timor-Leste to explore for manganese prospects from the areas of Nipane and Passabe located in the Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA).

In the event of success, the INVESTOR is granted with first right to negotiate a mining contract with the Government of Timor-Leste.

The INVESTOR, in cooperation with RAEOA had previously carried out initial prospecting activity including collecting and testing of manganese samples under supervision of the Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais (ANPM) and Institute of Petroleum and Geology (IPG IP). The results show that the Nipane and Passabe areas have great geological potential for manganese mineral. The INVESTOR then expressed its interest to invest in carrying out further detail exploration in these areas.

The Government considers this as strategic investment in mineral sector and in national interest to promote the development of the sector to contribute to economic development of the country in general and RAEOA in particular. The Government then entered into negotiation and close the agreement under specific terms and conditions including; State participation of up to 30%, potential future RAEOA participation of up to 10%, in-country processing, preference of employment for Timorese Nationals and supply of goods and services as well as compliance with applicable laws on safety and protection of environment.

In his speech, Minister of State and Minister for Mineral Resource Mr. Mariano Assanami Sabino reaffirmed the Government’s support for investment and further informed the Government’s plan to establish a Mining Fund in the future to accumulate revenues generated from the mining sector. On the other hand, the INVESTOR represented by company director Sr. Sebastião Soares, reaffirmed company’s readiness to deliver committed exploration works and to open opportunities for training and employment for RAEOA during the implementation of the project.

The agreement is the first of its kind for exploration of metallic mineral potentials in Timor-Leste. The on-going Airborne Geophysical Survey covering Timor-Leste territory has revealed significant geological potential of Timor-Leste beyond oil and gas.

The signing of this agreement witnessed by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste is a significant milestone in the development of Mineral sector and marks Timor-Leste’s readiness to welcome investments in the sector. end

Tetum:

KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA

AKORDU BA PESKIZA KONA-BA REKURSU MANGANÉS IHA ÁREA NIPANE NO PASSABE IHA REJIAUN ADMINISTRATIVA ESPESIÁL OE-CUSSE AMBENO

Tuir publikasaun husi Rezolusaun Governu N.º 7/2018, husi loron-4 fulan-abríl, Governu Timor-Leste, reprezenta husi Sua Exelénsia, Ministru Estadu no Ministru Rekursu Minerál, Sr. Mariano Assanami Sabino, asina akordu ida ho PEAK EVEREST MINING, LIMITADA (INVESTIDÓR), nu’udar kompañia ne’ebé integra no eziste iha lei Timor-Leste nia okos, atu peskiza prospetu manganés iha área Nipane no Passabe no área sira-ne’e lokaliza iha Rejiaun Administrativa Espesiál Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA).

Karik kompañia ida-ne’e hetan susesu durante atividade ne’e, nu’udar INVESTIDÓR, sira sei hetan garantia atu sai entidade dahuluk ne’ebé sei negoseia kontratu ba esplorasaun mineira ho Governu Timor-Leste.

INVESTIDÓR koopera tiha ona ho RAEOA atu hala’o atividade prospesaun inisiál, ne’ebé inklui rekolla no teste ba manganés nia amostra sira, ho supervizaun husi Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais (ANPM) no mós husi Instituto de Petróleo e Geologia (IPG IP). Rezultadu husi atividade ida-ne’e hatudu katak área Nipane no Passabe iha potensiál jeolójiku boot ba minerál manganés. Nune’e, INVESTIDÓR espresa nia interese atu investe hodi hala’o peskiza adisionál ho detalle iha área sira-ne’e.

Governu konsidera katak ida-ne’e sai hanesan investimentu estratéjiku ba setór minerál no mós ba interese nasionál, tanba nia promove dezenvolvimentu ba setór ida-ne’e no kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu ekonómiku ho maneira jerál iha Timor-Leste no ho maneira partikulár iha RAEOA. Nune’e, Governu hahú negosiasaun no konsege akordu ida-ne’ebé iha ninia termu no kondisaun espesífiku sira, inklui partisipasaun husi Estadu to’o 30%, partisipasaun adisionál husi RAEOA iha futuru to’o 10%, prosesamentu iha rai-laran, preferénsia serbisu fó ba ema Timoroan sira, fornesimentu sasán no serbisu sira husi Timor-Leste, no mós obrigasaun atu kumpre lejislasaun ne’ebé aplika iha área seguransa no protesaun ambiente nian.

Iha ninia diskursu, Ministru Estadu no Ministru Rekursu Minerál, Sr. Mariano Assanami Sabino, haforsa Governu-nia apoiu ba investimentu no informa mós kona-ba Governu-nia planu atu estabelese Fundu Mineiru ida iha futuru, hodi rai hamutuk reseita sira-ne’ebé setór mineiru sei kria. INVESTIDÓR, ne’ebé reprezenta husi diretór kompañia, Sr. Sebastião Soares, deklara mós kompañia-nia disponibilidade imediatu atu ezekuta atividade peskiza ho dedikasaun no loke oportunidade formasaun no serbisu iha RAEOA durante períodu implementasaun husi projetu ida-ne’e.

Akordu ne’e nu’udar akordu dahuluk ba peskiza kona-ba minerál metáliku potensiál iha Timor-Leste. Peskiza Jeofízika Aerotransportada, ne’ebé hala’o iha territóriu tomak, hatudu katak Timor-Leste iha potensiál jeolójiku signifikativu aleinde petróleu no gás.

Asinatura ba akordu ida-ne’e testemuña husi Primeiru-Ministru Timor-Leste no sai nu’udar marka importante tebetebes ba dezenvolvimentu husi setór minerál no hatudu katak Timor-Leste prontu no disponível atu simu investimentu sira iha setór ida-ne’e. Remata