Asian Development Bank lends US$127 million to East Timor to ensure safe drinking water

The Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ABD) and the Government of Timor-Leste (East Timor) have agreed to US$127 million in funding to ensure safe and potable water in Dili.

Two-thirds of the population inhabit this capital.

“The project follows ABD’s strong engagement in the water sector by prioritizing investments in resilient climate infrastructure and strengthening the public sector to assist the Government in its commitment to ensuring water for all by 2030,” said ABD country representative Sunil Mitra.

This US$127 million (128.8 million euros) funding “will improve operations at the state-owned utility Bee Timor-Leste (BTL) by adopting a plan for gender-sensitive and socially inclusive water operational services.

“This includes customer support, human resources, long-term capital investment planning, operations and maintenance, and asset management,” reads the statement sent to news outlets.

“This project provides a significant package of support and reforms to assist BTL’s vision in gaining the knowledge to become an excellent water company in terms of operational performance and customer service,” said company president Carlos Peloi dos Reis.

With the funding, the Timorese government plans to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, including water treatment plants and reservoirs, and a new distribution network to ensure potable water from various sources, benefiting 36,200 homes and businesses in the capital.

The ABD is committed to ensuring a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia-Pacific region while also making efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, reads the statement from the bank, which was established in 1966 and had 68 shareholders, including 49 countries in the region.