The Offshore Petroleum Operations Regulations (“ROPOF” in the Portuguese-language acronym) were approved by the Council of Ministers through Decree-Law No. 32/2016, of 17 August 2016, have now been gazetted, and will enter into force on 15 November 2016.
As per the Petroleum Activities Law (Law No. 13/2005, of 2 September 2005), the ROPOF address in detail a number of matters concerning offshore petroleum activities in the Timor-Leste Exclusive Area (“TLEA”), including:
- Prospecting authorisation and access authorisation;
- Exploration, development and production operations;
- Requirements for design, construction, installation and maintenance of facilities;
- Termination of petroleum operations and decommissioning;
- Participation in petroleum operations by the State-owned company TIMOR GAP, E.P.;
- Valuation of petroleum;
- Health and safety;
- Environmental management;
- Local content;
- Procurement of goods and services;
- Insurance requirements;
- Disclosure and confidentiality of data and information;
- Penalties and fees.
This statute elaborates for the first time on various matters provided in the Petroleum Activities Law, thus contributing to greater certainty and stability in the Timor-Leste upstream petroleum sector at a time when the launching of a new bidding round for the awarding of blocks in the TLEA is forthcoming. A careful review of the new statute is critical not only to petroleum companies carrying out, or that wish to carry out, oil and gas exploration and production operations in the country, but also to their goods and services providers.
If you require a copy and/or and English translation of the ROPOF and/or have any queries in respect of the same, please reach out to us via the contact details set out below: