Tanesco's Communication Manager, Badra Masoud

A day after the High Court ruled that the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) had the right to appeal against Dowans, the utility company is now preparing to file its appeal to the Court of Appeal.

The appeal is in respect of the award granted to Dowans in 2010 by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in which the London-based arbitrator ruled that Tanesco should pay Dowans Tanzania Ltd and Dowans Costa Rica 94bn/- in compensation for breach of contract.

The two companies referred to as ‘Dowans’ by the ICC, were contracted by Tanesco to generate and supply electricity during acute power shortage created by falling of water levels in hydro-power dams.

But for the prospective appeal to be relevant, Tanesco’s application for stay of execution of the award decree must succeed.The High Court will rule on that application on April 18 this year.Tanesco filed the application, asking the court to stop payment of the award sum until after determination of their appeal.

Tanesco Communications Manager Badra Masoud said yesterday: “According to the High Court, Tanesco had the right to appeal, so we are preparing to file an appeal with the Court of Appeal soon,” she explained.Meanwhile the Tanzania Electric Supply Company is expecting three consignments of prepaid meters popularly known as Luku.

Ms Badra Masoud told ‘Daily News’ on Tuesday that the first consignment would arrive in the country on Friday.Ms Masoud confirmed that the machines had run out due to high demand across the country.“Anyone applying for electricity connection now receives the prepaid Luku machines; that’s why we ran out of the machines. But we are getting the first consignment on Friday,” she explained to ‘Daily News’ on Tuesday.

She also clarified that the ongoing power cuts were due to maintenance and not power rationing.“There is no power rationing. We have been carrying out maintenance work since 13th this month, and we advertised in some of the media outlets to let the public know about this,” she explained.Areas that were affected by the maintenance works are Kinondoni North, Ilala and Temeke.

By ROSE ATHUMANI, Tanzania Daily News

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