TIMOR-LESTE: Procurement of a Project Management Consultant for the Dili Airport PPP
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili (Dili Airport) is the main international airport in Timor-Leste, handling around 200,000–250,000 passengers per year over the 2014–2018 period. Initially constructed as a domestic airport, further investments and new arrangements are now needed to enable it to function as Timor-Leste’s main international gateway in line with international air safety standards and service levels. Upgrading and operating Dili Airport as a modern airport has become a priority for the government of Timor-Leste to meet expected future air traffic demand and promote tourism and trade. The upgrade and expansion of Dili Airport are expected to promote sustainable economic growth in Timor-Leste and create local employment opportunities.
The development of Dili Airport is a complex brownfield project with different capital works programs being implemented simultaneously with support from development partners, all while the airport is operational:
• ADB is supporting the initial runway extension (from 1,850 to 2,100 meters)
• JICA is supporting the construction of a new passenger terminal
• DFAT (through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific–AIFFP) is supporting the delivery of other critical infrastructure components
• IFC is engaged as the lead transaction advisor to support the government in selecting and appointing a private partner under a 30-year concession to manage the airport operations and future development
For the success of the project, it is critical that the different components or sub-projects are aligned and considered as part of the overall airport development, and not individual projects.
PPIAF provided support to the government hiring a Project Management Consultant to assist in project coordination with the donors and entities involved in the project’s development.
The role of the Consultant is instrumental in ensuring government capacity is strengthened to deliver the project to the required international standards within agreed timelines and on budget, with project issues addressed quickly. This will be achieved by providing internationally experienced multi-disciplinary technical expertise in project management, airport development, airport management, and environmental and social performance to support the government in dealing with the different development partners, contractors, and supervision consultants.
The selection of the Project Management Consultant was completed in May 2023, and as of June 2024, mobilization is about to be completed.