Crucial Tanesco machinery held at port over Sh4bn tax

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has been ordered to pay Sh4 billion in tax to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in order to recover machineries meant for gas power project at Kinyerezi in Dar es Salaam.

Briefing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals, Mr Deo Ngalawa, said the debt was stalling the ongoing project that started in 2015 which is aimed at producing 425MW. He said it was surprising that the government blocked Tanesco’s plants at Dar Port while knowing that the project was for the development of the country.

“Tanesco is a state-owned company and so is TRA. So, what is the problem? Why shouldn’t they meet and agree to end this problem so that the public would quickly access power?” wondered Mr Ngalawa.

He said the main drive currently is about industrialisation, but wondered how that would be achieved if there is no power. He urged the government to ensure that the equipment, being held over a month now at the port, be released so that the project could be implemented as per earlier plans.

MP Kilango Malecela (nominated seats) said it the matter did not paint a good picture at the time the public was in much need of power.

“It is saddening and even shameful. Let the government sit down with the committee and Tanesco to ensure the plants are released and quickly installed to make Tanzania’s industrialisation drive come true,’’ said Mrs Malecela

For her part, Mlimba lawmaker Suzan Kiwanga said the public was in need of power for their own development as the rural electrification move alone was not enough, therefore holding up machines at the port could make them to have no faith in their government. For his part, Bukoba Urban MP Wilfred Lwakatare argued that Tanesco were supposed come open on how much they are owed by the government and demand to be paid so that it would in turn clear the debt.