The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Florence Mugarula and Vicent Mnyanyika
4 November 2009
There were hectic efforts yesterday at the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) as technicians, government and IPTL management officials focussd to start the production of power this week.
The IPTL management told reporters at the plant that the company was looking ahead to switch on the machines this week.
Speaking to reporters, the IPTL's Operations and Administration Manager, Mr Venerabilis Jigge said the machines could be switched on any time from yesterday.
He said the company had already received the running cost, other basic payments from the government and that at the moment there were no any problem between the government, and IPTL as some people think.
According to Mr Jigge the company has already bought oil from Total fuel supply company and that the oil tanks were expected at the plant starting at 05.00PM.
Mr Jigge said that IPTL has ordered 7.5 liters of heavy fuel, which cost at least Sh 7.5 billion.
"We have ordered 7500 Metric tons of heavy oil which cost 7.5 billion, the consumption of the fuel will depend on how long the machines are switched on," said Mr Jigge.
Commenting on the company insurance, the general manager, Dr Magesvaran Subramanian said that IPTL has already informed the CIMB Insurance blockers in Malaysia to finalize all insurance procedures and that everything was in good form.
He said blockers have given green lights and thus the company has decided to proceed with other important power generation measures with the government.
Commenting to the matter, the Principle state attorney and IPTL assistant administration general, Mr Theophil Rugonzibwa said the government has already paid IPTL, technicians and other running cost.
However, the lawyer said that it was hard to pledge when the machines will start producing power but ensured that the technicians were working tirelessly to start the generators this week.
" I cannot tell exactly day of starting these machines, but I can assure you that these machines will start working this week," said Mr Rugonzibwa.
Meanwhile, the Wartsila Operations and Management plant Manager, Mr Jakko Kaihua told reporters that the team of technicians were finalizing the test of machines but declined to mention exactly date of switching on machines.
Meanwile trucks were yesterday evening expected to offloading fuel at the IPTL plant Speaking to the citizen yesterday, the spokesman with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mr Aloyce Tesha said four trucks from Total Oil Company were expected to dispense heavy fuel to start operations.
Mr Tesha said the government's role ended last week after handling a Sh15 Billion cheque to the provisional liquidator.
"These funds are for a three months provision, there after Tanesco will take up the task of paying, after the plant starts generating power, they will take up from there, "said Mr Tesha.
I believe end of this week the plant will be switched on, after these four tankers, others will also be dispensed since the plant consumes 25 tankers in a day, he added.
Mr Tesha however admitted that the delay to switch on the plant was caused by difficulties in the talks between the government, IPTL and the provisional liquidator before they finally agreed and signed the agreement on Thursday last week.
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