20 October 2006, by PowerNell. Apparently the failing Richmond Development Company is still in the picture at several ministries. According to This Day "some senior public officials" are trying to influence the minister of Finance to release a large sum of money to the company (This Day, 20 October, 2006). The Citizen reveils that Richmond is still not registered at the Tanzanian Investment Centre: Richmond applied for registration only recently. They do have a certificate of incorporation in Tanzania though. In this certificate Richmond enumerates the commercial activities in which it would like to be engaged: power, mining, transport, clearing and forwarding, agriculture, warehousing, and trade in jewellery, amongst others. Furthermore one of the two owners "runs a small secretarial business and internet café on Chipata Street going by the name of "Richmond Center"." (The Citizen, 20 October, 2006). To me this doesn"t sound like a reliable power expert.
 
"Richmond has found 'new friends" in government"
 
Let me give you the complete quote from This Day: "While the RDC [Richmond] may have lost critical support at the energy ministry since the recent cabinet reshuffle, the company has found 'new friends" in high places elsewhere – where some senior public officials are now trying to influence Finance Minister Zakia Meghji to release the 12 bn/- to the company. (...) Energy sector sources said the RDC has a high level backing at Ministry of Energy and Minerals despite its questionable conduct since last year when it failed to honour two major contracts by Tanesco and the ministry." (Source: This Day, 20 October, 2006).
 
Richmond "on a shoestring budget"
 
In the same article This Day mentioned that Richmond is allegedly on a shoestring budget. I guess this means that Richmond claims to be able to supply the cheapest generators. Obviously Richmond is not producing the generators itself, as they have only four employees. So where is Richmond going to get the generators? Why are they so cheap? We don"t want potentially failing second-hand power equipment, we want quality.
Another question: what will happen if there is a breakdown? Who is going to do the repairments? "Richmond Center" internet café? I am still upset by the Richmond revelations. Would you buy a submarine from someone who owns a internet café?
And apparently it happened last year, too! This Day also mentions that last year the government cancelled Richmond"s contract to construct the Mwanza Oil pipeline due to delays.
It is all very doubtful.
Aggreko steps in for Richmond
 
Meanwhile Aggreko steps in with a additional 20 MW, ahead of the company"s own schedule in December (The Citizen, 16 October, 2006). Aggreko"s first 20 MW generator operates since Monday and components of the second 20 MW generator arrived today (Daily News, 20 October, 2006). Apart from that, officials of Tanesco and the ministry of Energy are negotiating for another 30 MW gas and thermal emergency plant (Daily News, 20 October, 2006).
 
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