From 1 July to 4 July, the SPE Western Australia (WA) Section visited Timor-Leste to host an inaugural Energy4me session, join ANP’s 17th anniversary party, and visit the historic village of Balibo on the Indonesian border with SPE’s Timor-Leste student chapter officers.
Inaugural Energy4me Session for 200 Students
Timor-Leste is one of the youngest democracies in the world, so the nation greatly appreciates SPE's support. For several years, SPE WA has been fully committed to staging a meeting every quarter locally for the SPE Timor-Leste Student Chapter featuring international speakers. Following an idea hatched at SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition last October, we had been crafting plans for an inaugural Energy4me session in Dili. Thanks to SPE, we were privileged to have Lou Jean Rodriguez, SPE Energy Education Manager for Eastern Hemisphere, travel to Dili from Abu Dhabi to deliver this.
Energy4me is SPE’s energy education program that helps students, teachers, and the public uncover factual, unbiased information about all types of energy. Energy4me delivers STEM experiences that open young minds to global energy solutions and supports aspirations that any students might have for science degrees leading to employment in the energy industry.
Ordinarily, Energy4me is run for approximately 100 students on the cusp of finishing high school. However, we decided to run it for 200 undergraduates owing to the very large number of students here and because we believe that the key objectives chiefly remain unchanged for university students.
On reflection, we might have been slightly ambitious in running this for 200 undergrads, some with limited English, hence it took slightly longer than planned. Fortunately, we had a diverse group of facilitators to assist Rodriguez, namely: Dino Gandara (Sunda Energy), Dircia Da Costa (Timor Gap), Domingos Guterres (ANP), Domingos Freitas (UNTL), Luis Pereira (Finder Energy), Reinalda Pires (Santos Ltd.), 2024 petroleum engineering graduates Inersia Soares and Kevin Martins, as well as me. Rodriguez led a very informative train-the-trainer session a few days in advance, so that everyone, technical and nontechnical, was familiar with the three experiments.
When registration closed for the four universities teaching petroleum engineering, petroleum management and geological sciences, we had 90 from Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), 60 from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL) and 25 each from University of Dili (UNDIL) and Universidade Oriental Timor Lorosa'e (UNITAL). There was a good balance of years one through four as well as females and males. The registrants were assigned to 20 teams of 10 in the same ratio by university registrants, so that students from different institutions were team members.
Following my opening address summarizing the track record of SPE WA on the island and the significant impact of these quarterly events primarily thanks to our annual sponsors, Rodriguez gave an introduction of Energy4me including the three experiments that the 20 teams would be undertaking during the day.
The initial experiment, although quite straightforward in creating a clay seal above a water/oil-infused reservoir of sand and soil, was designed to have high impact on the students by effectively demonstrating “naturally” occurring oil seeps.
The second experiment simulated the process of core sampling in oil and gas exploration. It proved challenging to build a drilling rig with a limited number of K'NEX parts capable of extracting a sample in a clear straw from a pre-provided multilayer substrate. K'NEX is an advanced construction toy with a signature rod, connector, and wheel system, which inspires STEM-learning via problem-solving, spatial awareness, and engineering skills. Several phases began with planning and sketching the rig design, then construction and testing it to extract a continuous core with preserved visible layers. The facilitators scored the teams based on their approach and outcome, with the top seven teams presenting their designs and results immediately after lunch.
Following a mid-afternoon chocolate brownie treat for everyone, the final experiment demonstrated the concept of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) using CO2 to extract additional hydrocarbons from a reservoir with declining production. Participants constructed a model system consisting of three jars: a reservoir jar filled with rocks and water, a CO2 injection jar where effervescent tablets generate CO2, and a production jar to collect the recovered oil and water. Tubing connected the jars to simulate how CO2 is injected into a real reservoir to increase pressure and reduce oil viscosity, allowing trapped hydrocarbons to flow. Facilitators analyzed the amount of oil and water recovered with the winning team recovering the highest volume of oil.
An eternal memory is students wearing four distinctively different university uniforms bonding, strategizing, debating, and successfully delivering solutions together, having never previously met each other. It was very satisfying to witness the groups working together towards a common objective, and what’s more, having fun, and especially celebrating their achievements. The EOR experiment generated a high degree of accomplishment and certainly the most noise during the entire day. When each team’s assembled system started to produce oil, it triggered loud whooping and hollering. A fun, engaging, and insightful day for all involved.
Whilst the students didn't require any incentives, special thanks to Santos Ltd. and SPE for generously providing prizes, as well as UNTL FECT for the use of their beautiful auditorium.
ANP 17th Anniversary Party
A common thread exists across many of my quarterly visits to Timor-Leste over the past 3 years, in that something unexpected usually happens, and almost always, something extraordinary and memorable. That trend continued on this visit. Senior Dino da Silva, President ANP (the petroleum regulator) kindly invited me and Rodriguez to ANP’s 17th anniversary party on 1 July 2025. A remarkable achievement bearing in mind that Timor-Leste only gained independence on 20 May 2002.
Staged at the entertainment pavilion of the City8 complex in Dili, where the ANP and ANM (National Minerals Authority) offices are located, guests primarily hailed from ANP and the other petroleum and resources government organizations, as well as numerous ministries. Formalities included speeches focused on the significance of this historic milestone by H.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Acting Prime Minister, and Vice PM, H.E. Francisco Monteiro, Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources, and of course, President da Silva of ANP.
Completely out of the blue, Her Excellency Verónica das Dores, Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, invited me up to open one of the specially branded ANP bottles of champagne. Admittedly, it was slightly surreal popping champagne corks alongside government VIPs. There followed a buffet-style dinner, a huge spread of delicious local and Portuguese dishes, and dancing to music by a traditional Timorese live band. The party continued on, but prior to us leaving, H.E. Minister Francisco visited every table to offer a small toast and convey his personal gratitude, a very gracious gesture.
A prized benefit of attending this event was the opportunity to promote SPE and our initiatives in Timor-Leste to several non-energy government ministers with whom I was not previously acquainted. It also offered the chance to reconnect with the Vice PM, who assured me that he would strive to speak at one of SPE WA’s future quarterly events in Dili. On reflection, we were immensely privileged to be so intimately involved with this ANP celebration.
2025 Student Officer Team-Building Trip to Balibo
The SPE Timor-Leste Chapter is one of the largest out of more than 400 globally, and SPE WA is committed to enhancing the leadership, interactivity, and teamwork skills of the student chapter officers. Last year we launched an annual team-building initiative for these 14 aspiring young petroleum engineering and geological sciences students with an overnight trip to Baucau. This was the second annual team-building workshop for the student chapter officers and faculty advisor, this time a 3-hour drive west of the capital, Dili, to the historic village of Balibo on the Indonesian border.
We stayed at the historical Balibo Fort Hotel, perched on a hilltop with magnificent views to the coast, and across the mountainous island where coffee, Timor-Leste’s second-largest export after petroleum, is grown in abundance. Over the centuries, this fort had housed the military of Portugal (who colonized Timor over 400 years ago), Japan (during World War II), Indonesia (during their occupation from 1975 to 1999), and also Australia (as part of the INTERFET forces from 1999 to 2000 just prior to the independence referendum).
The 2 days featured a blend of engaging team and individual challenges, mostly in the hotel’s well-equipped meeting room but also featuring a three-team timed treasure hunt within the extensive grounds with each team uncovering the treasure (a bag of chocolate bars) and the fastest team winning SPE multipower charging cords.
We kicked off proceedings with “Two Truths and a Lie” on an individual basis. By sharing three statements about their lives, team members sparked conversations, built understanding, and enhanced camaraderie. It encouraged interaction, curiosity, and laughter, creating a more cohesive team environment. Some were very creative, some not; however everyone loved this game. Ultimately Victoria was the winner, with Hugo second, and Napoleão third, each winning a pair of designer socks from Perth.
Following construction and geography challenges, we concluded with a quiz for seven teams of two on the extensive history of Timor-Leste and Balibo following a few hours browsing the wonderfully curated museum onsite. It materialized into an ultratight contest requiring five tie-breaker questions before Helena and Denilson emerged as triumphant winners, claiming Balibo t-shirts.
The team savored meals together on the veranda of the main colonial-style building, with stunning views across the Banda Sea to the island of Alor, at the eastern end of the Indonesian Lesser Sunda chain. During a wonderful buffet dinner including chicken curry, we engaged in some motivating conversation about careers before the students decided to return to the swimming pool accompanied by a Bluetooth speaker until midnight. Security expressed concern about disturbing other guests, clearly not realizing that I’d reserved the entire hotel.
We are eternally grateful to our 2025 Timor-Leste sponsors for helping us achieve our mission and creating lifelong memories for these young Timorese undergraduates. Thanks Sr Nido, Vice Dean of UNTL FECT, for participating.
Viva Timor-Leste!
