Dili, 7 November 2025 – Provedor for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lame hosted a meeting with Eletricidade de Timor-Leste (EDTL) leadership, including Executive Commission President Paulo da Silva and his technical team, to discuss the findings from PDHJ’s recent surprise inspection of the electricity supply in Atauro, which currently operates for only 18 hours per day.
During the meeting, the Ombudsman briefed the EDTL President on a recent inspection visit by the Quadrilateral team, composed of PDHJ, CAC, CFP, and IJE, to the EDTL Atauro station. The team assessed electricity supply issues and highlighted the human rights perspective, emphasizing that all residents deserve continuous access to electricity, even though the current supply is limited to 18 hours daily.
Paulo da Silva explained that EDTL Atauro operates three diesel generators with a total capacity of 3.6 MW. One generator produces 1.2 MW, while the other two are older units installed in 2007–2008, and have reached the end of their designed operational lifespan. Therefore, continuous 24-hour electricity supply is not feasible with the current equipment.
Fuel storage capacity is also limited. Although the station can hold 65 tons of diesel, this is sufficient for only 30–31 days of operation, further restricting continuous electricity provision. Despite these constraints, electricity supply has improved from the initial 12 hours to 18 hours per day, marking significant progress, though the risk of sudden generator failure remains.
To address long-term supply, EDTL is collaborating with Australian consultants from the Northern Territory on a feasibility study to install a 2–3 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system with battery energy storage, integrated with the existing diesel generators to create a hybrid system capable of achieving 24-hour electricity supply. The tendering process is expected in the coming months, with project completion targeted for December 2026 or January 2027.
Paulo also noted that local residents often request extended electricity hours during important events or gatherings. EDTL accommodates these requests whenever possible, but it requires careful operational planning and additional resources.
EDTL emphasized that long-term financial sustainability remains a challenge. Electricity tariffs alone do not fully cover operational and maintenance costs. Currently, three remote villages rely on standalone solar PV systems due to access limitations, and plans are underway to expand solar infrastructure to additional areas once land becomes available.
Overall, EDTL continues to strive to improve electricity access in Atauro, aiming for a reliable 24-hour supply while balancing technical, operational, and financial constraints.
This post is also available in: Tetun