China Eximbank pledges loan for Section 1 of the Suai-Betano-Beaco Highway Construction Project

China Eximbank pledges loan for Section 1 of the Suai-Betano-Beaco Highway Construction Project On February 11, 2015, the Government of Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Public Works signed a $298,100,257.90 commercial contract with a joint venture consisting of China Overseas Engineering Group Co., Ltd and China Railway First Group Co., Ltd for Section 1 of the Suai-Betano-Beaco Highway Construction Project.

The Loan Unit of Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Finance subsequently reviewed a loan financing proposal from China Eximbank for the project. However, there is no evidence that a loan agreement was ever finalized.

The purpose of the project is to construct a four-lane highway from the town, port and airport at Suai and the proposed oil and gas industry facilities in Betano (Manufahi) via Beaco (Viqueque).

In January 2016, construction for the Suai Expressway Project (东帝汶苏艾高速公路) began as part of Timor Leste's greater 15 billion USD Tasi Mane Project. On November 17th, 2018, the first phase of the intended four-lane expressway opened to traffic.

The contractor China Overseas Engineering Group Co., Ltd pursued a joint venture with China Railway First Group Co., Ltd (COVEC-CRFG) to establish the China Railway International First Bureau East Timor Joint Venture Company (中海外－中铁一局东帝汶联营体公司), to build the Suai Expressway.

COVEC-CRFG's parent company is China Railway International. After two years of construction, the 155 km expressway runs from the city of Suai in the south to Beaço in the north.

According to the Japan Times, the highway intends to link the Suai airport with Beaço, a coastal town that will host an LNG plant -- a petrochemical refinery and supply base (see Record ID#64002). The first phase of the project is 30.355 km in length, four-lane, two way highway.

According to China Railway First Group, the speed limit will vary between 60 and 100 km/hour and reduce travel time between Suai and Beaço to less than two hours.

As of 2018, this project is the largest infrastructure construction project in Timor Leste's history and the first highway in Timor Leste..

According to the Environmental Justice Atlas, the total budget for the remainer of the highway is estimated to be 500 million USD but as of September 2019, funding for stages 2-4 has yet to be allocated by the government.