The HydroTimor weBlog

We knew it was supposed to happen, but were still left with an unreal feeling, realising the time actually was here Sunday 28 June 2009: “Mr Alf” Adeler left East Timor.

Don’t misunderstand, we realise that after many years working very hard for HydroTimor, Mr Alf needs to go back to his family in Norway and resume life with his wife, children and grand-children, and we wish him all the best! It’s just that after his major contribution to the development of East Timor, we have to wonder what lies next, how do we carry on his legacy?

New people will come and continue the development of hydroelectric power and hydrology, and we are confident they will do a great job. But there is no doubt that an era is over. We have witnessed something special, something great, something beautiful, and we are grateful and touched. For all you have done, Mr Alf we thank you, and know that we will miss you!

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)

Kassius Klei, our Programme Manager for the institutional cooperation between Timor-Leste and Norway within the power sector, who has worked with us for more than four years, will leave us for a period for further studies.

Kassius has got a scholarship from Norway to study for his Master degree within Energy at the School of Environmental Resources and Development at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. He will be away for a period of two years, and will thereafter join us with even more competency than today.

We congratulate Kassius with his scholarship, and wish him all the best during his studies. And we look forward to have him back with us after the two years. We hope he will send regular information to our blog! Best luck, Kassius!

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)

After the large soil sinking in Gariuai, which damaged the penstock of the mini hydroelectric power plant, we have called upon two specialist teams to make survey, and propose solutions for a fast and safe repair of the penstock.

The first team came in March, and the second in May 2009, short time after the accident.

Reports are expected within mid June. Thereafter we will prepare to start the repair work. The delivery time for parts etc for the penstock is some months, but other preparations can be made in the meantime.

Gariuai is such a good mini hydropower plant, assisting the supply of electricity to a large area. We will do all our best to have it up running as soon as possible.

Luckily, only the penstock was affected by the soil sinking. The power house and operator’s building, the store, both dams and the transmission line are ok!

Extension of the office for HydroTimor and the National Directorate for Water Resources Management is progressing.

For more than two years now the part of Ministry of Infrastructure dealing with hydrology and hydropower, called by our self for HydroTimor, has had the office in a small building at the Electricidade de Timor-Leste (EDTL) premises in Caicoli, Dili.

Since we have been merged with the National Directorate for Water Resources Management, the office space has become too small.

Norway granted during the Annual Meeting 2009 an amount sufficient to enlarge the office building to cater for at least 20 persons in good working facilities, and to purchase
office furniture and other equipment.

After a tendering process, the local company Baboe from Dili was the winner, and started construction work at the middle of April 2009. The plan is to complete the building before the 22 June 2009. The consultant for the construction is Lemorai Lafoti Consultant from Dili.

The work is progressing according to schedule, and will when completed make the old, small office to a large, nice office building. Emphasis has been made to make it a strong building, which is large, but without looking like a very large building.

By sitting together, the complete National Directorate for Water Resources Management will become an efficient unit, working close together, ready to serve others in Timor-Leste who will need data from us, and to assist to develop Timor-Leste in the right way!

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)