Resource information
The important role of biomass fuels
today. Timor Leste is a relatively small country located in
the eastern part of Timor Island with an area of about 1.5
million ha and an estimated 2007 population of 1.0 million.
At about US$550 GDP per capita, it is one of the least
developed countries in the world, with an estimated 40
percent of the population in poverty. However, the
development of offshore oil and gas resources in partnership
with Australia has recently begun to generate substantial
revenues for the Government. The country still faces huge
challenges ahead, as it tries to rebuild an economy that was
totally devastated during the recent periods of violence and
civil unrest. In the energy sector, several major investment
projects have been initiated that would greatly expand the
power generation and distribution infrastructure, and make
electricity accessible to large numbers of currently
un-served urban and rural people. For the household sector,
there is no question that improved access to electricity
will dramatically improve the quality of life, through
superior electric lighting and the capability to use modern,
more efficient appliances. Electricity, however, is unlikely
to make even a dent in the vast majority of homes as a
substitute for other cooking fuels.
