Kafulila afichua wizi wa Bilioni 200 za Tanesco BOT

[John Kachembeho]

Ministry’s contradictory versionIn another development, the ministry of Energy and Minerals issued two conflicting communications last week, in a bid to defend what transpired between IPTL, Tanesco and Pan Africa Power Solutions (PAP).

Last week, the director of Communication at the ministry, Ms Badra Masoud, issued a clarification advert after our sister paper, Mwananchi, published a story saying Tanesco was on the brink of bankrupt, following the judgment delivered by the Washington-based tribunal, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) tribunal.

In the advert, the ministry says following the order by ICSID tribunal, Tanesco was in the process of initiating discussions with Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong (SCB-HK) to find an applicable formula to recalculate capacity charges as well as power tariff.

It is hence obvious that the government and Tanesco understand the involvement of SCB-HK in the multi-billion power deal that has made the headlines in the country for 19 years. The advert confirms that the government fully understands the jurisdiction of the ICSID tribunal.

But, on Friday, the minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, posed a question to Mwananchi newspaper: “Are we governed by US laws?

Prof Muhongo either believes ICSID operates according to US laws or has no jurisdiction over the government of Tanzania. The minister seemed to contradict an announcement from his ministry, which confirms and recognises the jurisdiction of ICSID tribunal.

Investigation by The Citizen has also established that on February 13, 2014, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mr Eliakim Maswi’ trashed SCB-HK demands, saying the bank wasn’t party to the long-standing dispute between IPTL and Tanesco.

In his later dated February 13, this year with reference number CBD.88/417/01/25, directed to Mr Joseph Casson of SCB-HK, Mr Maswi writes: “We have carefully studied the contents of the letters…it surprises to see that the SCB-HK, which neither a party to the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) nor to the Implementation Agreement (IA) alleges the breach by the government of Tanzania or Tanesco.”

Mr Maswi further writes: “The GOT believes that SCB (HK) is quite aware that it lacks locus standi to claim, pursue, and or require a part or parties to the said agreement to undertake any associated requirements as it is not a party to the agreements.”

The letter, which was also copied to AG concludes: “In view of the above, the GoT does not see a necessity to meet and discuss any steps in relation to the alleged defaults for mitigation purposes and its subsequently discourages SCB (HK) from raising any matter against the GOT in relation to the PPA and IA.”

It is not clear why Mr Maswi chose to respond to a letter that was directly directed to Tanesco and simply copied to the ministry of Energy and Minerals.

But as both the minister and permanent secretary claim that SCB-HK is not an interested party to the IPTL-Tanesco dispute, the statement from the same ministry and available documents obtained by The Citizen proves the opposite.

 

[John Kachembeho]

Who is scb-hk in this dispute?

To finance its power project in Tanzania in 1995, IPTL borrowed heavily from Malaysian lenders. Its loan was originally subscribed with a consortium of Malaysian lenders who in 2005 sold the loan to SCB HK.

-According to details gathered by The Citizen, the financial assumptions were that the projected cost was $163.5 million; the debt/equity ratio was at 70 per cent senior debt and 30 per cent equity; the amortisation for the 70 per cent senior debt was at 7 years (later changed to 8 years in 1998) and the internal rate of return on equity was 23 per cent (later corrected to 22.31 per cent by agreement of the parties after the ICSID 1 award).

Presently, SCB-HK, is the senior debt lender to IPTL, whereby it is owed $145 million (Sh234.465 billion). SCB-HK subsequently held a number of settlement and restructuring discussions with Tanesco and its counsel, Mkono & Co and Hunton & Williams.

The discussions focussed on ways to restructure the project and facilitate the settlement of creditors’ claims from the Tegeta escrow account and future operating cash flows.

On February 14, this year, ICSID ruled: “The present case, SCB HK is entitled to recover the tariff payments due during the period when the plant was being operated by the provisional liquidator, which will include capacity charges and bonus payments, less the amount that covered the operation and maintenance of the plant that was expenses not incurred by IPTL in whose shoes the bank stands.”

SCB-HK lawyer warn

Amid claims by the ministry that no breach has been committed with regard to escrow account, the lawyers representing SCB-HK, have warned that following the transfer of funds from the BoT to PAP, the state-owned power utility is indeed in default of its obligation.

In a letter written to Tanesco and copied to the ministry of Energy and Minerals, SCB-HK lawyer, Mathew Weiniger writes: “We have seen the affidavit sworn by James Burchard Rugemalira served by VIP on January 8, 2014 in proceeding in the High Court of Tanzania…If Mr Rugemalira’s evidence is correct, it would appear that the funds formerly held in escrow account for Tanesco’s payments obligations under the PPA have been released to a third party, Pan Africa Power Solutions (T) Ltd.”

Mr Weiniger further writes: “Accordingly, Tanesco is currently in default of its obligations under articles 6.6 and 6.8 (b) of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)…on behalf of SCB (Hong Kong) Ltd as assignee of the PPA, we hereby demand that Tanesco provides security for its payments obligations as soon as possible within 30 days by providing a letter of credit, or making payment into escrow in an amount equivalent to at least 2 months capacity charges and energy payments.”

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Wh...840392/2237732/-/item/2/-/ikw6bm/-/index.html

 

[Mkoroshokigoli]

Honestly,the citizen wamelitendea haki saga la IPTL/ESCROW

 

[idoyo]

Wanajamvini jaman naombeni msaada wenu juu ya ili swala la Escrow ki kweli mi nipo gizani kwa lugha rahisi cjui sana na jua juu juu mara kuna majaji wamekula pesa mara kuna maaskofu wa bunge na kadhalika ila cjajua Escrow ni nini ilianzishwa kwa madhumini gani na lengo lake ni lipi na ilikuwaje watu wote hao wameusika na ilo swala ma je hao watu ni wakina nani
Please nisaidieni nijue

Awali yakupasa kujua 'Escrow Agreement' ni nini. Hii ni hati za kisheria inayoelezea taratibu na masharti kati ya pande (mbili) zinazohusika katika 'escrow'. Makubaliano ya escrow yanafafanua mpangilio ambao upande mmoja huweka amana na upande wa tatu (uitwao 'wakala wa escrow'), ambao baadae utakabidhi kwa upande mwingine ikiwa masharti maalum ya mkataba kuwa yamefikiwa.

Makubaliano ya 'escrow' yanaweza pia kuwa nyaraka zitolewazo na benki kuthibitisha kwamba dhamana maalum au mali zimehifadhiwa katika benki fulani. Mifano ya mali zilizoingia ni pamoja na fedha, mikataba, matendo, bonds au mali nyingine au vyombo.

Kwa maana nyingine ni makubaliano kati ya pande mbili, basi hizo pande huingia makubaliano na mtu wa pembeni (wakala) kuhifadhi amana, ama pesa hadi pale mgogoro utakapoisha, au masharti mengine yaliyowekwa yatakapokamilika.

Sasa hapo kwenye suala la Tegeta Escrow Account sijui sana. Ila palikuwa na makubaliano kati ya IPTL na Tanesco, na BoT alikuwa wakala. See https://www.jamiiforums.com/jukwaa-...smarted-the-government-of-tanzania-got-8.html

 

[Mjomba Mkude]

Wakuu,leo nimeongea na ndugu yangu toka kijijini..,baadaye akaomba nimfafanulie namba ambavyo ufisadi wa ESCROW ulivyotokea..,daah nkabaki mdomo wazi..
Please naomba mwenye kujua namna ilivyokuwa mpaka ufisadi ukatokea atujuze..
Pamoja wakuu..

 

[sifongo]

Ha ha ha ha....... JF raha sana na mimi Kuna Siku nilisoma habari fulani humu ndani nikaenda kuisimulia sehemu,dah.......jamaa waliniona kichwa balaa,wakauliza mshkaji una undugu na Prof Baregu nini?.......,.,usikonde Mkuu,hope story utaipata na ww ukawape wahitaji,Au kama vp pekuapekua humu ndani Kuna sehemu ipo.

 

[Cushite]

Tegeta ESCROW account ni akaunti ya dhamana iliyofunguliwa BOT (Bank Of Tanzania/Benki kuu ya Tanzania) kati ya shirika la ugavi la umeme Tanzania (TANESCO yaani Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Ltd) na IPTL (Independent Power Tanzania Ltd) kwa lengo la kuifilisi na kuuza IPTL kwa mwekezaji mwingine chini ya usimamizi wa RITA.

Lengo lake ni IPTL kulipa kufidia TANESCO kwa IPTL kukiuka mkataba wa mwanzo wa kufunga mitambo ya kufua umeme aina ya MSD (Medium Speed Disel) badala ya SSD (Slow Speed Disel) na pia ili TANESCO iwapelekee watumiaji wake umeme ni lazima IPTL izalishe umeme kwa makubaliano PPA (Power Purchasing Agreements) wakati huo huo malipo yanayotoka TANESCO kwenda IPTL yanaenda Tegeta Escrow Account iliyoko BOT badala ya moja kwa moja kwenye akaunti ya malipo ya IPTL.

Katika kesi iliyofunguliwa na TANESCO didhi ya IPTL kwa kukiuka mkataba wa awali baina ya TANESCO na IPTL, na TANESCO kushinda ndipo hapo hizo hela ilitakiwa irudhishwe TANESCO ama HAZINA au shughuli yoyote ile ya kiserikali na kwa kuwa TANESCO ni shirika la UMMA hivyo basi hizo hela ni jasho la kila mtanzania haijalishi ni wa mjini au wa kijijini ama mfanyakazi au asiyefanyakazi katika sekta isiyo rasmi.

Ripoti ni ndefu sana, (Haihusiani na ripoti za CAG, TAKUKURU wala PAC) ina zaidi ya kurasa 28 kuanzia tangu mchakato wa kuingia mkataba wenye wa utata baina ya TANESCO na IPTL kati ya miaka ya 1990s' na majina ya wahusika wa kipindi hicho baadhi yao wakiunga huku wengine wakipinga hadi April 2014 ambapo baadhi ya viongozi wetu, tena tuliowapa dhaman na wanasheria kibao jinsi walivokwapua hela zetu bila aibu.
Ninasema ni hela zetu kwa sababu zifuatazo:

1. TANESCO ni mali yetu sote haijalishi unatumia umeme au lah kwani huendeshwa kwa hela za serikali ambayo ni kodi ya kila Mtanzania. KWA NINI MIMI NISIYETUMIA UMEME INIHUSU?

Alaah!Nninahusika sana kwani ninatumia bidhaa za viwandani tena mimi ndo mlaji wa mwisho haijalishi nipo mjini au kijijini. Mfumuko wa bei ni wa juu tena wa kutisha kwa sababu TANESCO huwauzia Wateja wake kwa bei ya juu sana kuliko nchi yoyote katika ukanda wa Afrika na hata duniani wakati huo huo tungeweza kufua umeme wetu kirahisi sana kwani tuna rasilimali nyingi kama gesi, maporomoko ya maji, upepo, bahari, jua nk.

2. Hela zile zilitakiwa zirudi TANESCO

3. Ni kodi yangu mimi, wewe na Yule aliye Mtanzania.

4. Kwa nini ziwe za hao wachache?

Naomba kwa maelezo hayo hapo juu na mimi niweze kuchangia mada iliyopo mbele yetu, ninavyoona mimi kwa mujibu wa mtoa mada pamoja na ufafanuzi wake baadae, mazingira anayoshi na ulewa wa muuliza swali aliyetaka kujua ESCROW ni nini, na baadhi maoni ya wachangiaji hapo juu nami nitoe yangu sasa.

Mosi mtoa mada anataka tuamke kwenye usingizi huo wa kutokufuatilia mambo yanayotuhusu sisi sote kwani mali iyoibwa ni yetu na inakuaje mtu kama huyo (Mwuliza swali asijue) kwa mazingira anayoishi kwa sasa na uelewa wake japo kuna mambo ya kibinafsi mtoa mada kazungumzia na jinsi alivyowasilisha mada husika mfano walipokutania. Nia yake ni kuwajulisha watu kama hao na wengine kuwa tuchukueni hatua mapema hii kadri iwezekanvyo.

Pili pengine muulizaje alitaka kujua ESCROW kwa Kiswahili maana yake ni nini au ni akaunti ya namna gani lakini anafahamu au ameshasikia uwizi wa hiyo hela lakini si mzalendo kwa nchi yake.

Tatu kufualitilia matukio yanayotokea katika jamii tena kwa wakati ni haki ya msingi ya kila mtu kama ilivyo haki zingine za msingi za kibinadamu kama chakula, malazi/makazi, Mavazi na MAWASILIANO.

Ni hapo tunaposema muulizaji alikuwa mzembe kiasi gani kiasi asijue habari za Tegeta Escrow account na wakati ni haki yake ya msingi na anamiundo binu ya kupata hiyo habari tena kwa wakati husika tangu simu/internet, radio, magazeti, TV, mitandao ya kijamii na hata jamii husika anamoishi.

Kuna wengine wametoa maoni yao kuwa kufualitia habari kama hizo haziwahusu, ni za wanasiasa au kutaka kuwa mwanasaisa la hasha hii haihitaji una elimu kiasi gani bali ni WAJIBU WA KILA RAIA KAMA MLIPA KODI ZIMEFANYA NINI ZIMETUMIKAJI NA KUHOJI NA HATA IKIBIDHI KUWAJIBISHA WAHUSIKA KWA SAUTI YA PAMOJA.

(ITS OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCUONTABILITY AS A TANZANIAN CITZEN to judge on where and how our money would be benefits my/our society, community and the Nation at large). Kufahamu mambo kama haya Si swala la siasa, mfano ingekuwa kutoa taarifa juu ya tahadhari kuwa kuna majanga yatatokea kama kibunga au tetemeko la ardhi, je tungesema hili nalo nila siasa, Kimsingi hakuna anayeepuka siasa kwa kutaka au kutokutaka kwani kama si mfuasi wa chama Fulani cha siasa, mzalendo au mwanaharakati basi huyo mtu ajidanganya mwenyewe.

HITISHO:

Kitengo cha nishati kwa Tanzania ndiyo sehemu inayongoza kwa ufisadi na ubadhirifu wa hela za Umma kuliko nchi yoyote duniani pamoja tunauza umeme wa ziada kwa Kenya (10MW), Uganda (5MW) na Zambia (1MW) lakini tuko nyuma na hatutaweza kuendelea kwa mtindo huo. Ukizungumzia UCHUMI wa nchi yo yote duniani unazungumzia NISHATI basi na si kingine labda na siasa ya nchi husika. Kwa sababu nchini mwenu siasa imetawala kuliko taaluma na viongozi wetu wanapewa chao na kudondosha sahihi zao bila kusoma mkataba ndiyo maana tunaona hayo yanayotokea na yataendelea kutokea kila kukicha.

Milolongo ya ufisadi na ubadhirifu wa hela za umma kuanzia EPA, RADAR, RICHMOND, DOWNS, BOT, BANADARI, HAZINA, TRA, MALI ASILI, UHAMISHAJI WA HELA KWENYE ACCOUNT ZA NJE YA NCHI, MIKATABA YA KUTATANISHA YA MIGODI YA MADINI, NISHATI ya GESI &MAFUTA huweza kutokea kwa nchi hii tu. Nchi ambayo ina kila aina ya mali asali duniani, kisiwa cha amani duniani kwani watu wake hawajawahi kumwaga damu, jiografia nzuri ya kila aina kuanzia bahari, mito, maziwa, nchi kavu na hata anga lakini imeshindwa kunufaisha wananchi wake na wao (viongozi) wenyewe badala yake huishia kukwapua mijasho (kodi) ya wananchi wanaowangoza.

Kila kukicha ninajawa na maswali ambayo yanakosa majibu kutokana na maovu na ufisadi wa aina hii. Tunashindwaje kujua ufisadi kama huo hadi mataifa ya nje na vyombo vyao kuripoti na kushinikiza?

Ina maana wahiska ni wote? Ni lini tutakuwa na viongozi wazalendo? Nini kazi ya hao wanaosema wao ni wapizani kama wanashindwa kufahamu hayo kwa wakati husika na hata baadhi yao kuwepo kwenye ufisadi huo? Ni lini Watanzania tutaamka kutoka kwenye usingizi huo mnono tena wa saa nane usiku? Ama ni nani aje atuamshe? Ni hao hao wakoloni?

Prepared by;
SIMON M. SULLE (Former IPTL worker and currently working Songas)

Reviewed and Edited by:
TsafuRD.

 

[Sijali]

Shilingi ya Tanzania sasa ni chini kuliko ya Uganda!

 

[MSHINO]

Heko kafurila