Times Of Swaziland: KANTEY AND TEMPLER IS A  CREDIBLE COMPANY - MINISTER

KANTEY AND TEMPLER IS A  CREDIBLE COMPANY - MINISTER
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BY KWANELE DLAMINI on 20/12/2014 00:47:00


LOBAMBA – Minister of Finance Martin Dlamini said Kantey and Templer
Proprietary Limited (Swaziland) is a credible company.
This is the company that will carry out the construction of the E900 million oil
reserve facility whose capacity is 80 million litres, which is enough to last a
period of 90 days.
Senator Prince Kekela asked what guarantee government had that the company will
not pull out of the project like AT & V, which had originally been contracted to
do the job but cancelled the contract without any explanation. The senator
raised a concern that if the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy did not
know why AT & V had cancelled the contract, what would happen if the current
company did the same thing.
Dlamini explained that Kantey and Templer is a credible company carrying out
projects in a number of countries.
“They are constructing buildings in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and
Namibia. It is a big company in South Africa,” said the minister.
He said the agreement with Kantey and Templer was that they will be paid after
they have completed the project and government was satisfied that it functions
satisfactorily. The minister said the company was chosen because government
wanted one that would not only construct the facility but also operate it.
Government made an agreement to pay the company over a period of two years.
Dlamini said there was also the option to pay in five years but at an interest
of 8.25 per cent.
He said fuel companies are expected to have their tanks in the premises of the
oil reserve. The minister said the facility in Matsapha poses a danger to nearby
buildings and the people. He stated that the facility to be constructed at
Phuzumoya was for the fuel companies to source fuel from it.
Attorney General (AG) Majahenkhaba Dlamini clarified that if Kantey and Templer
uses its own money for the project, government would have to provide surety for
payment and such would come from the consolidated fund. The AG said if the fund
is depleted, then government assets can be attached.
Explained
He further explained that when the American company, AT & V cancelled its
contract with government, they were within the period in which they could
withdraw.
Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Jabulile Mashwama said no country can
function without petrol.
The minister was speaking at Senate where senators endorsed the Strategic Oil
Reserve Facility Project Guarantee Bill No.22 of 2014. Another Bill that was
endorsed by the senators is the Swazi Bank Loan Guarantee (Electricity Systems
Strengthening Projects) Bill No. 21 2014. Both Bills were piloted by the
Minister of Finance, Martin Dlamini.
Minister Mashwama said the oil reserve project was decided upon as far back as
around 2005.
“Petrol is one of the things that a country cannot function without. There has
been a shortage of fuel recently. The project is at the heart of the nation,”
she said.
Mashwama said the project will provide employment opportunities to a number of
people and Phuzumoya will no longer be the same.
Meanwhile, Speaker in the House of Assembly Themba Msibi yesterday passed
condolences to the families of the victims of the kombi that was swept away by a
strong current at Tsawela on Monday.
So far 13 bodies of the people who are believed to be passengers of the kombi
have been retrieved from the river.
Msibi said the accident is spine-chilling. “We are with the families and
friends of those who have been affected by the accident,” he said.
Msibi also took time out to wish MPs a safe Incwala Ceremony and a Merry
Christmas. Parliament is in recess as of yesterday until its official opening in
February.