DILI, January 24, 2025 (TATOLI)* – The Weststar company from Malaysia has provided two helicopters to Timor GAP, E.P., to conduct operations facilitating petroleum activities in the Bayu-Undan field.
The two helicopters, with the registration number 9M-WSV, include one that has been in operation since January 4, 2025, while the other only arrived today (24/1). These helicopters have been operating for a total of 80 hours over the past month.
Weststar provided the two helicopters under a consortium agreement between Weststar and Timor GAP for operations in the Bayu-Undan field. Under this consortium, Weststar holds a 55% stake, while Timor GAP holds 45%.
“We have a partnership between Timor GAP and Weststar to conduct petroleum activities in offshore operations. Currently, an Australian company is providing this service, but the responsibility is being transitioned to Weststar GAP,” said Timor GAP President Rui Maria Alves Soares to journalists at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, Comoro, Dili, last Friday.
He explained that the Timor-Leste government is not renting these helicopters; instead, the consortium of Timor GAP (45%) and Weststar (55%) is facilitating the transportation of Timorese technicians involved in petroleum activities in the Bayu-Undan field.
Rui further stated that Weststar previously held a contract with Santos, a company that acts as the operator and partner for the Bayu-Undan field’s development, to transport technicians working in Bayu-Undan. However, now Timor GAP, in consortium with Weststar, is taking over this responsibility, and the company is providing two helicopters to transport Timorese technicians.
He added that the two helicopters are currently stationed at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport but will eventually operate out of Suai Airport in the coming months, flown by Malaysian pilots.
In the same context, Captain Banta from Weststar expressed his satisfaction with working in Timor-Leste to provide transportation services for technicians working in Bayu-Undan.
“We hope this collaborative service does not stop here but will continue for the next five or even ten years,” he stated.