Friday, April 26, 2013

Tanesco threatens to terminate contract with pole suppliers

Tanzania  Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has given a 40-day ultimatum to two companies contracted to supply electric poles to do so beginning early next month or else the power utility would terminate their contracts.
The two companies are Mufindi Wood Poles, which was contracted to supply 821 poles in mid April and Critical Engineering Solutions Construction Company Limited, which was to supply 1,922 electric poles.
The ultimatum follows increased demand for poles from hundreds of customers waiting for the service since January this year.
Tanesco Public Relation Manager Badra Masoud admitted that her organisation faces a critical shortage of electric poles to match with customer demand for power connection.
She said another factor which has also contributed to shortage of poles was the failure by Artumas Energy Tanzania Limied to meet its contractual obligations of supplying power to Lindi and Mtwara regions.
“This has forced Tanesco to allocate more poles to the two regions for implementation of the project,” she said.
 “The 40-day ultimatum will start next month.  If the two companies failure to honour their agreement we’ll announce a new tender,” Masoud said.
She, however, said that three other companies from Tanzania and South Africa have confirmed to bring poles by early next month. The poles will be distributed to six regions.
“All regions will be distributed with electric poles but the distribution process depends on who applied first,” she noted.
She named the three firms as Rousant International   which will supply 7,514 and Maghilika Timber Company – 1,100 poles both from South Africa and Sao Hill which will supply 6,358 poles.   
Last month, Tanesco said it was facing a critical shortage of poles which hampers accessing electricity to its customers.
Some Musoma residents complained to have applied for power connection since January this year but until yesterday the service was not extended to them.
According to Masoud, Tanesco has also ordered electric poles from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The number of customers who have applied for power connection has increased following government’s announcement in December last year of lowering connection charges.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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