IPTL refutes 300m/- capacity charge claim

                 Former President of United Republic of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete

FAUSTINE KAPAMA
THE Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) and Pan Africa Power Solutions Tanzania Limited (PAP) have refused the claims indicating that they were being paid 300m/- daily as capacity charges by TANESCO.

Acting Executive Chairman with the two companies, Mr Joseph Makandege, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that the amount received from Tanesco could range between 40m/- and 100m/- depending on demand of power supplied.

“IPTL has never ever been paid 300m/- as capacity charges per day by Tanesco,” Mr Makandege, who is also the Company Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel of the two companies, remarked.

He was reacting to an article published by a weekly tabloid, (Jamvi la Habari), when he said, “this publication is false and malicious and has been made with bad motive.”

In its publication dated February 1, 2016, issue number 90, the tabloid carried a story with a heading suggesting that the Executive Chairman of the Companies, Mr Habinder Sethi Singh and IPTL, were being paid 300m/- daily by the government.

“These are unfounded claims and have no any element of truth. These are serious and seditious publications that have been made purposely to create confusion and disharmony between not only citizens with their government but also the government and investors,” he said.

He further described as total lies the publication by the tabloid that IPTL has been costing the government for charging high rates in terms of capacity charges, thus causing electricity tariffs to go up as provided by Tanesco.

Mr Makendege pointed out that according to the schedules of tariffs for independent power producers provided by Tanesco. “Despite these rates, yet you could find some people still throwing stones to IPTL.

What is the justification? This is pure business enormity,” Mr Makandege further said. He said that they have started taking legal action against the publishers of such false report.

He mentioned some of the measures as informing the Ministry of Home Affairs to take action against owners of the tabloid as the published article was seditious and that they have complained to the Media Council of Tanzania for unprofessional conduct.