RE: West Star Helicopters3 Feb 2025 07:58
As FL reported the other day, now on the Government website.
Signing of Agreement Strengthens Worker Mobility for Bayu Undan Platform
Mon, 03 February 2025, 10:45am
The IX Constitutional Government witnessed, on 31 January 2025, the signing of an agreement between the oil company Santos Limited and Webstar-GAP Aviation, aimed at ensuring the mobility of workers to the Bayu Undan platform. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste and the Minister of Investment, Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Abdul Aziz, as well as the heads of Timor GAP and the National Petroleum Authority, among other representatives of various entities. Under this agreement, signed by Santos Executive Vice President for Northern and Western Australia and Timor-Leste, Vince Santostefano, and Webstar-GAP Aviation Director, Syed Muhamad Azi Azman, two helicopters will be made available to transport workers to the oil platform. Webstar-GAP Aviation is a subsidiary of TIMOR GAP, EP, which holds a 45% stake, in partnership with Webstar Aviation Service, a subsidiary of the Webstar Group of Malaysia, specializing in helicopter services for the oil and gas industry. TIMOR GAP, EP President Rui Soares described the agreement as historic, emphasizing its significant positive impact on the oil industry and its role in ensuring the active participation of Timorese professionals in the aviation sector.
Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, highlighted the importance of this agreement for promoting economic cooperation between Timor-Leste, Malaysia and Australia and also highlighted the potential for greater collaboration between Timor-Leste and Malaysia in the oil and gas sector, strengthening private sector partnerships between both nations. 475974389_475232115644481_2949557312185858950_n
The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, also highlighted the importance of the partnership between Santos and Webstar-GAP Aviation for the growth of the oil sector and strengthens the collaboration between Timor-Leste and Malaysia, in line with Malaysia's support for Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN.
Webstar-GAP Aviation will establish its operational base in Covalima, given the commercial viability and logistical efficiency of the location. The public company is optimistic about its ability to secure professional engineering, piloting and logistical support, with the aim of managing the subsidiary independently within the next five years.
Webstar-GAP Aviation currently operates with qualified equipment and resources from Webstar, including several Timorese professionals previously employed by the compa