Symbion Power CEO, Paul Hinks

Symbion Power has said the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has not paid ‘even one shilling out of a total of USD 20 million’ for the power generated until now by the power plants the US-based firm built in Arusha and Dodoma.

This is according to Symbion Power CEO Paul Hinks, who made the remarks over a telephone interview from the US when reacting to recent suggestions to the contrary in the Tanzanian media.

“Last year when Tanzania was in a crisis and Tanzanians were facing intolerable suffering, we stepped in and constructed two power plants, one in Dodoma and the other in Arusha. Both of them are operational and are delivering much-needed electricity to the country,” said Hinks.

“To date, Symbion’s invoices for the monthly bills have not been paid and we are now in August 2012. I wonder how many companies would have the confidence that we have demonstrated in Tanesco by building two power plants and delivering electricity and still not get paid our monthly fees,” he added.

Elaborating, the Symbion CEO said the only payments they have received so far are for their 120MW plant at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam.

“We haven’t been worried because we trust Tanesco and we trust the government and we know TANESCO have been having a tough time recently.”

The US-based energy firm is one of three power companies contracted by the government to assist in the implementation of a broader and government’s public-private partnership drive aimed to get the country out of power shortages.

Under the national power-rescue plan, Symbion Power was contracted to produce 205 MW and supply them to Tanesco.