THE government trashed the suggestion to nationalise the 100MW gas turbine owned by Dowans but said the plant could be used by a private entrepreneur to generate power for distribution by the public utility, Tanesco.
Energy and Minerals Minister William Ngeleja said in Dar es Salaam, that nationalisation of private property was not government policy and would breach constitutional right of individuals and organisations.
“Nationalising the Dowans plant would set a bad precedent and scare local and foreign investors. It is illegal and would land the government in unnecessary wrangle in courts,” he said.
The controversial proposal to seize the power plant was floated by the Deputy Secretary General of the opposition party, Chadema, Mr Zitto Kabwe, on Thursday to end country-wide electricity rationing.
Mr Kabwe, who is the Chadema legislator for Kigoma North, had campaigned in vain to have the government buy the plant from Dowans after expiry of the firm’s contract to generate emergency power.
“We shall not object if a private company buys the turbine and generates power for the national grid under contract with Tanesco,” energy minister Ngeleja said.
He welcomed Mr Kabwe’s other suggestion that the idling 100MW Independent Power Limited (IPTL) plant in Dar es Salaam should be switched on to alleviate the power shortage.
Mr Ngeleja said they expected to strike a deal shortly to start running the turbine pending resolution of a legal dispute between IPTL and Tanesco over payments. IPTL has, meanwhile, authorised conversion of the plant to use natural gas instead of gasoil.
The minister said foreign and local engineers were working round the clock to restore full capacity power generation at Kihansi, Pangani and Songas plants to end the rationing.
Tenders for the supply of brand new 100MW and 60MW power generators for Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, respectively, would be awarded later this month but manufacturing and delivery would take up to one year. Mr Ngeleja was optimistic that acquisition of the two plants and commissioning of new generating stations in the next three years would consign power rationing to history.
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