Sao Tome, June 19, 2025 (Lusa) - The Turkish company Tesla STP announced that it has suspended the power cut, which was due to start on Thursday, and that it is open to negotiations with the government of Sao Tome and Principe.
In a short statement sent to the Lusa news agency, Tesla STP announced that it “will continue to supply energy until further notice,” agreeing to negotiate an agreement, speaking of a “constructive approach” and a “spirit of cooperation.”
“Tesla STP acknowledges the invitation made by the prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe to begin discussions aimed at resolving the current situation and identifying a mutually beneficial agreement for outstanding payments and any other contractual issues,” the statement said.
On Monday, Lusa reported that the Turkish company had announced that it would suspend operations in the energy sector in Sao Tome and Principe as of today, claiming that the state owes it €7.5 million.
The government of Sao Tome and Principe responded by accusing the company of bad faith in the negotiations, arguing that the Turkish company had not met its energy supply obligations, as demonstrated by the findings of the Court of Auditors.
In a lengthy response, the São Tomé government recalled that the process began on 18 March, when it received "a formal communication from Tesla STP, notifying that, to avoid the immediate suspension of electricity supply to the country, a payment of €1.5 million should be made by midnight on 1 April 2025".
The government explained that it paid this amount at the end of March but received a new communication on 8 May demanding a further payment of €1.5 million by 1 June.
“Given that the Court of Auditors was conducting successive inspections/audits under the terms of the contract under Law No. 9/2023 (Temporary Law on Tax Incentives and Benefits), which supported the contract, the government postponed the second payment,” the government said.
After that, the government said it had made a new attempt at "dialogue and mutual cooperation".
In October 2023, the company signed a public-private partnership (PPP) with the state "to provide short- and long-term solutions" for the country's energy sector and transform it into a more sustainable and green sector.
However, after completing the first of the three phases of the project, Tesla STP said it would “pause operations in Sao Tome and Principe as of 12 a.m. on 19 June” The parties achieved compliance with "the necessary requirements" set out in the agreement signed by the São Toméan government, which it accuses of owing €7.5 million.
ANP/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
