Bollore Ports launches construction of Tibar Bay Port

Sep 17, 2018: Bollore Ports has kicked off the construction of Tibar Bay Port in Timor Leste in the presence of Ardo Noe Amaral, president of the national parliament, Taur Matan Ruak, prime minister, and Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, former head of state and former prime minister. The future deep-water port will be operational in 2021, after three years of construction

After an international call for tenders launched by the Timor Leste authorities, Bollore Ports was selected to realise this ambitious project, the country's first public-private partnership. It represents a total of a 490 million dollar investment over a 30-year period, the largest investment ever made in Timor Leste with a private partner.

This port project includes the construction of a 630-meter wharf with a 15-metre draught, the creation of 27 hectares yard, and the installation of a new ultra-modern equipment meeting the highest international standards, including two ship-to-shore cranes (STS) and five rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) on start-up.

Timor Leste's new container terminal will offer a high level of productivity and will be able to operate 7,500- TEUs. To best preserve biodiversity, environmental studies were also conducted for one year before starting the first phase of construction. This new project will further create 350 direct jobs, to which over 500 positions will be added during the construction phase.

"Today, we are pleased to announce the start of work on the port. Our Group is very proud to have accompanied the country in this new step in its development. This new ultra-modern portal hub will promote maritime trade, particularly between China and Northern Australia, and thus instill a new economic dynamic in the region," said Philippe Labonne, CEO of Bollore Ports.