Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported over the weekend.
Tanzania wins against Dubai firm Alchemist at the International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce has ruled in favor of Tanzania in the case against a Dubai-based firm, Alchemist Energy Trading DMCC. The case, referenced as 2682/AZO, was filed by the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA), a government agency mandated to administer and manage the importation of petroleum products in Tanzania.
This action was taken after the company failed to supply 36,192 tons of oil as specified in tender no PBPA/CPP/PMC/C3-KOJI/02/2021, which the company had won on January 05, 2021. The required supply window was between February 27, 2021, and March 01, 2021.
The ICC has ruled that Alchemist is obligated to return USD 9.7 million to PBPA, along with 7.67% pre-award interest from May 2021 to November 2023 for its failure to meet contractual obligations. Additionally, post-award interest at a rate of 7.64% starting from March 06, 2024, is mandated.
Furthermore, the company must pay USD 1.14 million for the disruption caused in Tanzania’s bulk procurement processes and refund USD 882,000 to PBPA as the arbitration cost, along with Tshs—818.2 Million as the cost for running the case.
Alchemist Energy Trading DMCC faced legal troubles in Tanzania’s court system as well. On July 13, 2021, the High Court of Tanzania issued an injunction against the company, preventing it from receiving money under letters of credit due to its failure to deliver petroleum products to PBPA.
The injunction stopped Alchemist Energy Trading DMCC from receiving over will no longer Sh30 billion from various international banks over a tender to supply to PBPA. The banks include ABSA Bank Tanzania, Stanbic Bank Tanzania LTD, National Micro-Finance Bank, National Bank of Commerce, NBCA Bank Tanzania LTD.
Other banks are Citibank UAE, Natixis Bank, I & M Bank Rwanda PLC, and Standard Bank of South Africa. Others are Rabobank Singapore Branch, Bank of Kigali, Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), ING Bank, ABSA Bank Mauritius, and Citibank.
African opposition leaders unite in support of Burundi’s ‘ousted’ opposition leader, Agathon Rwasa
Several African opposition leaders have come out in support of Burundi’s ‘ousted’ opposition leader, Agathon Rwasa, who leads the main opposition party in Burundi, the National Freedom Council (CNL).
Reports suggest that Rwasa was removed from his position within the CNL while attending the national convention of Tanzania’s opposition party, ACT Wazalendo. The reports indicate that a competing faction within the CNL carried out this ousting of its leader.
In a joint statement issued under the umbrella of the Pan African Opposition Leaders Network, these opposition leaders condemned the development and linked it to the actions of the state.
“The network has learned with shock and dismay that the authorities in the Republic of Burundi, in collaboration with a faction within CNL, have plotted to unlawfully take over [the party],” reads part of the statement.
“We urge the authorities in Burundi to refrain from unwarranted interference with CNL or any other opposition party,” the statement continues, which was signed by Martha Karua of NARC Kenya, Dorothy Semu of ACT Wazalendo, Zitto Kabwe of ACT Wazalendo Tanzania, John Mnyika of CHADEMA Tanzania, Kizza Besigye of the People’s Front for Transition Uganda, and Yassine Falla of Pastef Senegal.
Tanzania seeks approval from UNESCO for surface hardening of the Serengeti roads
Tanzania is seeking approval from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to use hard materials to build about 3176 Kilometers of roads in World Heritage inscribed, Serengeti.
This was unveiled yesterday by Government Spokesperson, Mobhare Matinyi during his meeting with the journalist.
Matinyi explained one of the motivations behind this government move is some of the costs incurred due to weather conditions such as the recent rains which caused havoc in many roads.
“After 65 years of using gravel which utilizes a lot of water inside the park areas, TANAPA is now exploring long-term solutions which is the use of hard surfaces. A proposal for this has been shared with UNESCO for their approval,” said Matinyi.
EU Stresses Integrated Approach to Achieve Clean Cooking Energy Transition in Tanzania
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau pointed out the importance of an integrated approach in achieving a clean cooking energy transition in Tanzania as the EU supports clean cooking energy initiatives in the country.
Ambassador Grau hinted during the Women’s Clean Cooking Conference 2024 held in Dodoma on Saturday, March 9th, 2024, which coincided with the celebration of International Women’s Day.
The EU has already provided 19.4 millions Euros to the CookFund programme, implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF Tanzania), as a part of EU’s ‘Integrated Approach to Sustainable Cooking Solution’ that aims to promote clean and green energy cooking solutions in Tanzania.
The programme aims to overcome market barriers for a sustainable cooking energy and policy and regulatory support, supporting public institutions to use cleaner energy and national level awareness campaigns that will enable the public to change their mindset and cooking behavior.
“We’re on one hand providing, to help provide new technologies, develop new technologies, and on the other hand helping toward the new regulatory framework policy for the government” said Ambassador Grau.
In Tanzania, about 63.5 percent of the population uses firewood as a source for cooking energy, 26.2 percent use charcoal, and less than 10 percent use clean cooking energy, including gas and electricity.
“So, we try to cover a very broad range of elements, and this integrative approach is important for us in order to really move things forward,” added Ambassador Grau.
The CookFund programme is implemented in five regions of Tanzania Mainland and it is expected to contribute to the efforts toward achieving National Energy Policy goal and the Sustainable Development Goals.
This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see below), following us on X (Twitter) (here), or joining us on Telegram (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
