Media Release

Onshore Petroleum Operation Decree-Law is now in force and applies to Onshore Petroleum Operations

In order to support Timor-Leste on the development of the infrastructure for the Petroleum activity in the Onshore area and promote the investment in the Petroleum industry in Timor-Leste, the Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais (ANPM) through the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals submitted to the Council of Minister, a proposal Decree-Law to regulate Onshore petroleum operation.  As a result on February 2019, the Council of Minister approved the Decree-Law and on April 2020it was promulgated by H.E President of the Republic to be in forced. Therefore the Decree-Law No. 18/2020 of 13 May on Onshore Petroleum Operation is now in force and applies to Onshore Petroleum Operations including transportation, processing and storage of Crude Oil and Natural Gas with direct impact on any reservoir. This Decree-Law also applies to facilities for Petroleum operation located Onshore and the use of such facilities in Petroleum operations under the Law No.13/2005 of 2 September, as amended by Law No. 1/2019 of 18 January, on Petroleum Activities.

This Decree-Law No. 18/2020 of 13 May covers a broader scope of issues related with Onshore activities, notably a legal statute that also addresses environmental and technical aspects related with the carrying out of onshore Petroleum Operations, such as rights of way through, on or over the land destined for Petroleum Operations, installation of pipelines, rules on geological, geophysical or geochemical surveys, environment.

This Decree-Law No.18/2020 of 13 May also stipulated on matters pertaining to means and ways of intervention, expropriation, nationalization and privatization of means of production and land on grounds of public interest, as well as criteria for the establishment of compensations in such cases, including the appeal to the Government in case of any land dispute occurred.

This Decree Law No.18/2020 of 13 May can be found under the Timor-Leste Official Gazette under this link: http://www.mj.gov.tl/jornal/public/docs/2020/serie_1/SERIE_I_NO_20.pdf and under the ANPM website: http://www.anpm.tl/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Decree-Law-18-2020-Onshore-Activity.pdf