Opening of Gariuai Mini Hydropower Plant
The 10 November 2008 was a big event for both Timor-Leste and Norway. The first hydropower station in Timor-Leste was opened after a construction period of 3 years! The power plant is a gift from Norway to Timor-Leste, and is constructed as a pilot and training project by local people from Gariuai Sucu, with monitoring support from Norway. The opening was celebrated with a big party at the power house area, with traditional dancing, handing over of tais and a lot of speeches.
More than 200 people participated both from Timor-Leste and from abroad. Among the Timorese participants were the leader of the Parliament, Mr FernandoLasama; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Zacarias Albano da Costa; the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr Pedro Lay; the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Urbanization, Mr Januario Pereira; the leader for the Baucau administration, Mr Antonio; and the Gariuai Sucu Leader Maria de Jesus Belo. From Norway participated the Norwegian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Mr Eivind Homme; the Chargee d’Affairs Ms Eva Irene Tuft; Embassy First Secretary Mr Tor Morten Sneve; the Director General of Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Mr Agnar Aas; the former Bishop of Norway, Mr Gunnar Staalseth; and representatives from the Consultant among others. Also World Bank, ADB, the supplier of the power house equipment Wasser Kraft Volk from Germany, many Embassies with their Ambassadors or other high level people, and many NGOs participated. Basil Rolandsen from the Bouvet Foundation was as usual busy filming the event.
The Sucu leader, Ms Maria Belo made the opening speech, and expressed gratitude for the hydropower project being implemented in her area, and for the benefit of already giving work for more than 1500 different persons, both women and men, over more than three years. This project introduces the cheap, clean and renewable energy source of hydropower to Timor-Leste!
Other speeches were made by the leader of the Parliament, the Minister for Infrastructure, The Director General of NVE and the consultants. Mr Kassius Klei, the Programme Manager and Mr Alf V Adeler, the Senior Adviser introduced details about the project for the audience.
A formal startup of the power plant was made by the leader of the Parliament, the Minister for Infrastructure and the Norwegian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, under guidance from Programme Manager Kassius Klei.
After startup, a good lunch was served. A local band played and local dancers performed. The party continued for a long time, and participants from all the 8 aldeias in Gariuai participated.
The Power Plant startup was a success, and electricity was connected to the local grid through the new 4 km transmission line, also constructed by the project. Together with the Baucau diesel power plant, electricity could then be supplied to all Baucau district 24 hours every day, with no load shedding and with a better quality.
For more details about the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project, please see the website, where in addition to general and technical information, downloadable copies of the brochure (in .pdf format) as well as the video (introductory and full versions) may be found.
Photos: Basil Rolandsen (Bouvet Foundation)