Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

State Aid in Relation to Services of General Interest:

An Examination of Tanzanian Competition Law
Sr. Ester John Kilatu [L.S.O.S.F],
LL.B (SAUT), PGDLP (LST), LL.M in Corporate and Commercial Law(UDSM), Assistant Lecturer SAUT- Arusha Centre and
Coordinator for Mobile Legal and Counseling Clinic of the Little Sisters of St. Francis of ASSISI

Abstract:- This study evaluates the influence of state aid state subsidies, under the East African Community
granted to providers of services of general interest. It Competition Act1and has in place the Competition Act and
looks at how state aid affects competition in Tanzania. sector legislation to regulate the provision of public services
The study employed a descriptive design. Simple random in transport, energy and utilities, communications and air
sampling and purposive sampling were used to obtain transportation;2There still exist imperfect competition.
data from respondents. A self-administered questionnaire
and interview were used to collect primary data. Data Studies that have been carried out in Tanzania and
was analysed using descriptive and narrative approaches. elsewhere have concentrated on effects of dominance in the
market. Only a few studies have been carried out to evaluate
Findings of this study revealed that state aid gives the effect of state aid in competition. Sector regulated
economic advantages to specific firms, discourage industries rely on State subsidies and are often characterized
investment and may create dominance leading to by lack of competition in production or supply of services
distortion of domestic and interstate competition between and have ability to raise prices. 3 The problem which this
firms. This being the case state aid is normally study investigates is whether or not State subsidies rendered
prohibited. However, it has been further observed that to providers of Services of General Interest affect
state aid is necessary to serve particular marginalised competition in the market.
community, address market failure and that it is only
prohibited under community competition laws if it does  Background to the Problem
not constitute compensation. In addition, the study State authorities have been mandated to subsidize
further discovered that the East African Competition Act, provision of essential services necessary for the entire
2006, which came into force in 2014, regulates state population to access. Such services, popularly known as
subsidies whose economic consequences affect other services of general interest, cannot be supplied by the market
member states irrespective of whether all member states at affordable conditions without public intervention to offset
have enacted comprehensive competition laws and the additional cost. State intervention in terms of aid or
established institutions to that effect. It is the economic subsidies, as it is known in the competition legislation of
effect of state subsidies that affect interstate market. Tanzania,4 may distort the market if not properly regulated.
State aid regulation ensures that access to public services is
It has been recommended that states should only aid compatible to avoid distortion of competition in trade and
undertakings on services of general interest to the extent commerce.
that does not affect other firms operating in the same
market for profit making; also should assist the small and Services of General Interest (SGI) are services that
medium-sized enterprises according to the law. There public authorities classify as being of general interest and,
should be established state aid rules to regulate aid therefore, subject to specific public service obligations.5The
awards to undertaking for avoidance of overreliance on
rules established on other jurisdiction.
1
Part V of the East African Community Competition Act,
I. INTRODUCTION 2006.
2
RingoW.Tenga, Op.cit.
Tanzania like other nations is obliged to ensure the 3
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development:
availability of services of general interest to its citizens as Model Law on Competition (2010)- Chapter VII.
basic needs for an immaculate and secure living. These 4
Section 3 of the Fair Competition Act, 2003.
services depend on public State aid which finances the 5
Communication from the Commission to the European
operations of service providers. Such services would Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and
otherwise be inaccessible in the market without public Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, “A
intervention. This has called for regulation of provision of Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in
such services to promote competition. Although the Europe”20.12.2011COM(2011) 900 final. Also Available
government of Tanzania regulates state aid, in the form of at:https://ec.europa.eu/info/topics/single-market/services-

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term covers both services of economic interest and non- potential aid in order to deliver timely decisions within the
economic services. Services of economic interest (SGEI) relevant business.12
include economic activities that deliver outcomes in the
overall public good that would not be supplied by the market In East Africa, the East African Community
without public intervention. 6 Non-economic services Competition Act 13 provides for partner states’ subsidies
embrace social services of general interest (SSGI). These are under Part V of the Act. It allows a member state to provide
normally provided to vulnerable citizens, based on principles subsidies to undertakings if it deems fit for public interest but
of solidarity and equal access.7 with notification to relevant authorities who determine
whether the subsidies are compatible as exemptions or
State aid exists where a state favours certain illegal.14
undertakings or the production of certain goods.8The concept
of state aid is traced back to the development of European Tanzania protects and regulates services of general
Union in 1947 under the General Agreement on Tariffs and interest through pieces of legislation, policy statements and
Trade (GATT).9 regulations. The Fair Competition Act, 15 established a Fair
Competition Commission (FCC), a Fair Competition
State aid rules become evident on ‘subsidies and aids Tribunal (FCT) and a National Consumer Advocacy Council
granted by States’ under Art.4 (c) of the Treaty of Paris.10 In (NCAC). There are also sector-specific regulators established
1957 the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic under specific statutes. In the transport sector there has been
Community (EEC) and classified state aid as state established the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory
intervention that distorted competition. The current EC rules Authority (SUMATRA), 16 in the energy and utilities sector
regulating state aid is founded under articles 107 to 109 11 there has been established the Energy and Water Utilities
which explicitly prohibit state aid which distorts or threatens Regulatory Authority (EWURA), 17 in the communications
to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or sector there has been established the Telecommunications
production of certain goods. The Treaty recognizes both Regulatory Authority (TCRA),18 and in the air transportation
actions in which state aid is not permitted and actions that there is the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority
can be done within the legal limits. The rationale was to (TCAA).19These authorities have been established to provide
avoid favouring certain companies that conduct normal a robust oversight of the market20and to ensure that provision
commercial business through provision of financial support of services of general interest does not distort competition.
or lesser taxation. Provision of services by these authorities notwithstanding,
citizens still lack the choice of quality, substitute and timely
In 2012 the European Commission modernized the state essential services and facilities. State aid may thus be aimed
aid rules to require the Commission, among other things, to at protection of consumers.
avoid technicalities when examining allegations concerning

12
general-interest_en, Accessed on 5th January, 2018, at EU Modernization of the State Aid Rules, COM (2012)
11:06 hrs. 209, issued on 8th May, 2012.
6 13
Ibid. The East African Community Competition Act, 2006.
7 14
https://ec.europa.eu/info/topics/single-market/services- Section 16 and 17 of the East African Community
general-interest_en, Accessed on 5th January, 2018, at Competition Act, 2006.
15
11:06 hrs. The Fair Competition Act, No.8 of 2003.Which replaced
8
Claus-Dieter Ehlermann and Martin Goyette, “The the Fair Trade Practices Act of 1994.
16
Interface between EU State Aid Control and the WTO The Surface and Marine Transport Authority Act, 2001
Disciplines on Subsidies”, EU state aid versus WTO [Cap. 413]
disciplines on subsidies ‒ estal 4|2006, p. 695; Available 17
The Energy & Water Utilities Regulatory Authority, 2001
at [Act No. 11 of 2001].
18
https://www.wilmerhale.com/uploadedFiles/WilmerHale_ The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Act,
Shared_Content/Files/Editorial/Publication/Ehlermann_G 2003 [Act No. 12 of 2003].
oyette.pdf, Accessed on 3rd March, 2018, at 16:00 hrs. 19
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Act, 2003 [Act No.
9
Art. 16 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade[1947]. 10 of 2003].
10 20
Treaty of Paris of 1951. RingoW.Tenga, Consumer Protection Model and the
11
The Treaty on the Functioning of European Union in Tanzania Legal Compliance Framework-With some
2007, formally article 87-89 of the Treaty establishing the Reference to the Communication Sector, Tanzania
European Community. Revenue Authority Workshop, June, 2009, p.2.

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II. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW to regulate anti-competitive practices by prohibiting anti-
competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and controlling
In 1961 Tanzania inherited a market economy which mergers and acquisitions. Proper enforcement of the Act
prevailed up to 1967 when the country embarked upon would protect consumers. Indeed, provision of state aid
nationalization policy under the Arusha Declaration. The would also assist in protection of consumers.27
Declaration promulgated the policy of socialism and self-
reliance. Following the Declaration all major means of In the East African Community, state aid is regulated
production were nationalized. The aim behind the measures under the East African Community Competition Act. 28
that were taken was to ensure that Tanzanians benefitted Despite efforts to enhance fair competition, provision of state
from their resources. Private ownership of means of aid to specific undertakings distorts competition.
production including industries was discouraged.21To foster
this aim Tanzania enacted many pieces of legislation to  Legal Framework on State Aid in Relation to services of
relinquished the state control through structural reforms General Interest
including the Price Regulation Act 22 however the state The government as a trustee of its citizens is required to
continued to play a decisive role in how had to be conducted ensure provision of essential services necessary for the
in the country.23 survival of its citizens. Competition laws and institutions,
among others, ensure that providers of services of general
By mid-1980’s Tanzania relinquished state control by interest adhere to fair competition and consumer protection.
embarking on liberalization of economy which entailed
privatization and deregulation under the regime of His A. The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of
Excellence Alli Hassan Mwinyi who opened the doors for 1977
private investors. Liberalization of the economy necessitated The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania,
taking steps to control anti-competitive practices in order to by necessary implication, permits state subsidies and aid to
protect both the consumer and the economy. providers of basic goods and services. Article 14 of the
Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania provides for
In line with liberalization and nursing competition in right to life. This implies that, every person has the right to
1989 the Price Regulations Act of 1973 was repealed. This good health. In order to have good health a person needs
step was one of the major reforms that were undertaken after quality food and other basic necessaries. This, in turn,
the decline of the economy in 1980’s. Subsequently, a requires protection of consumers against goods and products
taskforce was established in 1990’s to probe on the which are hazardous to health. To this end, the state funds
weaknesses of the economy and advice on how to regain and providers of services related to health, utilities, education and
develop the country’s economy. 24 The team came up with economic empowerment of the citizenry as the basic
recommendations among others to enact the Fair Trade responsibility of the state to ensure quality goods and
Practices Act.25 services in a fair market. 29 These rights complement each
other.
The Fair Trade Practices Act of 1994 was the first
Competition law which outlawed anti-competitive B. The Fair Competition Act30
agreements, mergers and acquisitions and abuse of The Fair Competition Act of 2003, prevents anti-
dominance. Among its weaknesses was to confer enormous competitive agreements, abuse of dominance or market
powers to the minister including the power to fix prices. The power and controls mergers and acquisitions with the aim of
Act further lacked territorial application which would protecting consumers. It regulates all sectors of the economy
enhance economic efficiency. Due to these shortfalls except specified sectors.31 Section 3 of the Act provide for
Tanzania repealed the Fair Trade Practices Act and replaced justification of state aid. The Act further establishes
it with the Fair Competition Act.26 This Act has been passed institutions vested with power to enforce competition laws,
namely the Fair Competition Commission, the National
Consumer Advocacy Council and the Fair Competition
21
Eliamini Laitaika, “Legal and Institutional Aspect of Fair Tribunal which entertains appeals from regulatory bodies and
Competition in Tanzania,” Open University Law Journal, the Fair Competition Commission.
Vol.5. No.1: 58-68, 2014, p.58.
22
The Price Regulation Act, 1973.
23
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNICTAD), “Voluntary Peer Review of Competition 27
Section 3 of the Act, provide for justification of state aid.
28
Law and Policy: United Republic of Tanzania Overview, The East African Community Competition Act, 2006.
29
United Nations New York and Geneva, 2012, p.3. Article 11, 14 and 18 of the Constitution of the United
24
Eliamini Laitaika, p. 59. Republic of Tanzania of 1977 as amended.
25 30
The Fair Trade Practices Act of 1994. No. 8 of 2003.
26 31
No. 8 of 2003. Section 96 of the Act.

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C. The Energy Subsidy Policy32 competition the Authority is enjoined to notify the partner
The policy provides for energy subsidies which are state. If the partner state is aggrieved it may appeal to the
granted by the government to minimize the cost of energy court.
production which may allow setting of affordable prices to
customers. The policy establishes rules to guide both the  Definition of Concepts
government and other sector undertakings when making
decisions on where to allocate resources based on specific A. State Aid
areas of priority. State aid “is when the public organization selectively
supports certain enterprises or industries, financially or by
D. The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority other means”.39State aid means measures granted by a state
Act33 or through state resources in whatever form. 40 The same
The Act, among others, regulates electricity prices or definition of state aid is stipulated under Articles 87 and 89
tariffs. It approves Tariff (D1) which is intended to benefit of the former Treaty establishing the European Community41
consumers using less than 75 kWh per month. The and Article 107 and 109 of the Treaty on the Functioning of
government compensates the reduction incurred by the European Union.42
TANESCO in effecting such reduction rendered to
marginalized customers. 34 TANESCO offers a fair price of The concept of State aid is wider than the concept of
100/=Tshs per unit to customer under tariff (D1) and subsidy because it goes further than grant of donation in form
implement standard power purchase to small firms who of subsidies or grant, but rather concerns all measures which
produce less than 10 MW. These firms sell to TANESCO at a alleviate the undertakings cost.
higher price compared to production price. The rationale is to
promote investment. However the government has not The rationale behind regulation of state aid is to avoid
compensated TANESCO since 2015. jeopardizing the ability of undertakings to compete fairly
since state aid is a potential danger on competition,43although
E. The Electricity Act35 it may be used to save a failing firm.
The Electricity Act was established to facilitate and
regulate electricity generation, transmission, distribution, B. Services of general Interest
supply and use. It provide for cross-border trade in electricity Services of General Interest (SGI) are services that
and for planning and regulation of rural electrification. To public authorities classify as being of general interest and,
that end, cross –subsidies between customer categories have therefore, subject to specific public service
been applied. obligations.44They may cater either social or economic needs.
This study has covered those services which cater for
F. The East African Community Competition Act36 economic needs which would not be supplied without public
The East African Community Competition Act which intervention known as services of general economic interest.
came into force in 2014, regulates competition matters across They include economic activities that deliver outcomes in the
the state parties. The Act requires state parties before overall public good that would not be supplied by the market
granting subsidy or effecting merger and acquisition to notify without public intervention.45
the EACCA.37
39
G. The East African Community Competition Regulations38 The Eu State Aid rules and WTO Subsidies Agreement,
The EACC Regulations elaborate the provisions of the June, 2017.
40
EAC Competition Act. The Regulations require the EAC Art. 16 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade[1947].
41
Competition Authority determine whether a subsidy would or 1993 formerly the Treaty of Rome of 1957.
42
would not distort or threaten competition. If it would distort (TFEU) 2009. Also see, sections 16 and 17 of The East
African Community Competition Act, 2006.
43
Rodger, B., and Macculloch, A., Competition Law and
32
The Energy Subsidy Policy Revised Draft, December, Policy in the EC and UK, 4th Edition, London and
2013. Newyork, Routledge- Cavendish, 2009, p.341.
33 44
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, Communication from the Commission to the European
Cap 414 [R.E 2002]. Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and
34
Section 24(2) of the Act, review Tariff after every three Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, “A
years. Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in
35
The Electricity Act, No. 10 of 2008. Europe”20.12.2011COM(2011) 900 final. Also Available
36
The East African Community Competition Act. 2006. at:https://ec.europa.eu/info/topics/single market/services-
37
Section 11 of the Act. general-interest_en, Accessed on 5th January, 2018, at
38
The East African Community Competition Regulations, 11:06 hrs.
45
2010. Ibid.

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States have recently accorded great concern on how  The aid should confer an economic advantage to specific
subsidies may be offered to public services by member undertaking or production of certain goods and services
states.46The concern has been as to how the state may fund which would otherwise not be granted under the market.
public services such as broadcasting or transportation These may not only include subsidies and grants but
services. In Altmark Case 47 the court considered the also tax reliefs or operating aid that an undertaking as a
complexity on the application of State Aid rules on Services beneficiary would have to bear. It has been noted that the
of general economic interest. It was held that where the government is authorized to provide assistance to certain
financial measure advance is regarded as compensation in providers of services for them to render quality services to its
discharging of public services then there is no State aid. In citizens at an affordable price.
order for subsidies advanced to providers of services of
general economic interest to be treated as compensation four The respondent justified the grant of subsidies to
conditions must be met: TANESCO by the government as an effort to reduce the cost
which would arise from operational cost if the provider had
 Clearly defined recipient or public service mandate. not received such assistance. Currently clients using less than
 Compensation must be calculated objectively. 75 kWh per month fall under Tarrif (D1) which has been
 No over-compensation, i.e., it must not exceed the cost approved for subsidies by the government.
for discharging the public services.
 Except for public procurement, compensation should be Further, assistance has been granted in form of grant
determined by comparison to what other economic firm in and tax exemption. These kinds of assistance are intended to
the same marked would incur. favour users of a particular fuel like kerosene. Kerosene is an
essential item by rural communities. The rationale behind
Thus some measures have been taken to avoid over- this type of assistance is to promote development goals,
compensation by maintaining transparency and accounting remedy market failure and re-distribute income to poor
systems. household especially in rural areas.

III. STATE AID DESTORT COMPETITION  The measure (aid) be granted by a member state or
through state resources(State funding)
It has been found that state aid granted to providers of It has been observed that the East African Fair
services of general interest may distort competition if the Competition Act of 2006 only prohibits subsidies that distort
following criteria of state aid elaborated in Belgium v. competition. However no established rules regulating the
Commission48exist. The criteria, based on the prohibition as assessment of state funding as regulated in other jurisdiction
per Article10749and section 1650 are shown below. have been put in place. Under the European Union rules
prohibit state resources in whatever form, whether financial
A. Assistance Granted must Constitute Aid or not. The Tanzania Fair Competition Act, like the EAC
It has been observed under case law that assistance may Competition Act, does not stipulate clear criteria for abuse of
distort competition if it is a state aid. For a measure to dominance for that case we rely on rules established in other
constitute state aid the following matters, as elaborated in the jurisdiction as it was stated in Tanzania Breweries Limited v.
case of Belgium v. Commission51 must exist. Serengeti Breweries Limited and Fair Competition
Commission 52 with regard to decision from other
jurisdiction, UK, EU and India there would be no hesitation
to their application.”

As to what amounts to state aid was explained in the

case of Steinike and Weining v. Germany.53 It was said in this
case that the concept of state aid should be widely interpreted
46
Rodger, B., and Macculloch, A., p.152. to include public institution, regional, territorial, institutes,
47
Case C-280/00 Altmark Trans GmbH v. government entities which directly or indirectly control
NahverhrsgesellschaftAltmark GmbH [2003] ECR I- public administration. State resources include state funds or
7747; [2003] 3 CMLR 12. funds for public resources or government budget to be
48
Case C-5/01 Belgium v. Commission (‘Cockerill distributed by the government, public bodies or private
Sambre’)[2002] ECR I-1191. Also see, Rodger, B., and bodies.
Macculloch, A., Competition Law and Policy in the EC
and UK, 4th Edition, London and Newyork, Routledge-
Cavendish, 2009, p.344.
49
Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, 2009.
50 52
The East African Community Competition Act, 2006. Tribunal Appeal No. 4 of 2010 at p. 50[Unreported].
51 53
Case C-5/01. Court of Justice Judicial decision Cases C-78/76.

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In the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation case the B. Assistance must affect Trade between Member States
principal legal counsel of TCRA asserted that “there were In case of over-capacity any amount of aid offered to
complaints from IPP in Tanzania which rendered the split of providers of services may be sufficient to impact negatively
TBC54 into two that is TBC1 for commercial which should on competition thus affect intra community trade. This has
not receive subsidies from the state and TBC as a public been prohibited as per section 16(1) the Eat African Fair
domain which receives subsidies from the government which Competition Act. Tanzania being a state party is subject to
does not distort competition.” Thus such separation helped to this prohibition.
avoid anti competitive practices where there are more players
in the same business line. According to Andreas Stargard, a competition and
Antitrust practitioner, the EACCA 60 oversees competition
One of the interviewees, the senior economist from the matters in the region beyond domestic boarder irrespective of
FCT, asserted that where there are many players in the same whether the partner state has in place domestic competition
line of business and when the government subsidizes one of laws or institutions.
the service providers, such subsidy distorts completion. He
further expressed that the Fair Competition Act regulates It has been found that Tanzania supports various
only matters falling under utilities; it does not regulate companies or enterprises which have the possibility of
service providers in other aspects like employment and interfering with the domestic or interstate market in areas like
gaming board.55The Act, justifies grant of aid under section Airline industries and utilities such as TAZARA, TANESCO,
356 and the Energy subsidy policy. 57 DAWASCO, TBC, health sector, and Dares Salaam bus rapid
transit. The Acting Head for anti-monopoly department at the
 Selectivity FCC, expressed that, the question of abuse of dominance is
This requirement may be satisfied where aid is granted not prohibited per see rather depend on rule of reason if the
to specific economic activities, sector or firms in a particular disadvantage overweighs the advantages.
geographical area or particular nature. Respondents
expressed justification on grants of aid that, specific An acting chief air transport officer asserted that, state
undertakings need to be empowered for them to render aid advanced to local institutions affect competition, as they
services. give an advantage to such undertakings which distort or
interfere with smooth running of the market. Thus, where
Services of general interest fall under selective services subsidy is allowed within a state, a member state may take
which the state is obliged to ensure their availability to its action if such subsidy harms them, for example if it affects
citizens at an affordable price. However, this may distort barrier to entry, lack of choice, high prices and division of
competition and discourage investment among enterprises. 58 market.

There is a dearth of state aid rules to most sector C. Distort or Threaten to Distort Competition
regulated undertaking in Tanzania apart few regulated Courts have held that irrespective of the degree of
utilities such as the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory competition in the community state aid distorts
Authority Act.59 Some sector like Airline industries have no competition. 61 According to the current EACCA Deputy
guiding rules on subsidies which leads to monopoly. State aid registrar, in April this year the authority was set to conduct
rules are necessary to create a fair and competitive market market inquiries to particular industries suspected of
field. engaging in price fixing.62The EACCA has to establish EAC
state aid rules just as required in other jurisdiction. Any
undertaking regardless of whether it receives assistance from
the state or not, will be held liable if its economic
consequence reach beyond the domestic boarder.
54
Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation. However, under the de minimis aid, normally the
55
Ntully Huggins v. MIC Tanzania Limited and Tanzania subsidy does not distort competition and the threshold does
Communication Regulatory Authority.Tribunal App. not require notification. Some member states adopt the use of
No.3 of 2012. Block Exemption Regulations to ensure aid grants are clear
56
Fair Competition Act of 2003.
57
The Energy Subsidies Policy, Revised Draft, December,
60
2013, p.1. The East African Community Competition Authority
58
Neale, A.D., The antitrust Laws of the United States, A [EACCA].
61
study of Competition Enforced by Law, Cambridge, Case 730/79 Philip Morris Holland BV v. Commission
Cambridge University Press, 1966. [1980] ECR 2671; [1981] 2CMLR 321.
59 62
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, https://africanantitrust.com/category/eac/ Accessed on
Cap 414 [R.E 2002]. 12th June, 2018 at 9:40 hrs.

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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and transparent. There are separate rules which may apply to RECOMMENDATIONS
electricity, agriculture, transportation and fisheries. For
example in electricity industry there are exemption on The state should provide assistance to providers of
subsidy extended to compensate service operation as services of general interest to the extent that it does not affect
minimum electricity Tariff to grade D1, benefiting the poor other firms operating in the same market for profit making
rural customer. Section1763provides circumstances in which especially the small and medium-sized enterprises.
subsidies granted do not distort competition to include
assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, the EACCA should establish clear and
detailed guidelines on assessment of state aid prohibitions
There are undertakings like TANESCO and TAZARA and exemption in order to enhance fair competition in the
which receive state subsidies and have dominance in the interstate market and avoid overreliance on European rules
market. Dominance by itself is not illegal unless the firm on both state aid and competition regulations.
abuses its dominance. However, the legal test is on
interchangeability or substitutability of the product or Further, there should be established government policy
service. 64 The alternative product or service need not be to minimize the cost on all services of general interest.
perfect but it must serve as optional. 65 Electricity Separation of account should be preferred in cases where
Act, 66 centers all electricity distribution roles to state intervention is necessary to avoid anti-competitive
TANESCO, 67 where other electric power producers are practices where there are more players in the same business
supposed to sell to TANESCO. line as in TBC and TBC1.

IV. CONCLUSION State aid should be abolished and if need arises be

limited to avoid distortion of market; with exception to
Irrespective of the competitive nature of the market, failing undertaking vital in the economy. This will create
state aid distorts competition. Funding some undertakings equal opportunity to the business operations and allow
accords special advantage which may make them dominant participation in the activities dominated by statutory sector.
and capable of suppressing other undertakings’ operations in
the same line of business. On the other hand state aid may Domestic competition laws should be amended to
promote development goals, remedy market failure and re- include criteria for determining abuse of dominance more
distribute income to poor households especially in rural specifically section 10 of the Fair Competition Act and the
areas. Electricity Act, to allow other players to enter in distribution
market.
There is neither established state aid rules to guide the
EAC subsidies in order to enhance fair competition in the Therefore, in order to have free and fair competition, let
interstate market nor does the Tanzanian Fair Competition market price alone determine allocation and distribution of
Act, specifically stipulate for criteria for abuse of dominance resources. State aid should be granted only where there is
by state aided firms. market failure.

State aid limited under de minimis policy does not REFERENCES

distort competition. Such assistance when compared with
other firms in similar operation does not exceed what would  Books
otherwise be incurred. [1]. Garth, L. (ed), Butterworth Competition Law
Handbook, 8th Ed, Great Britain, Butterworth, 2002.
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fact that state aid by its nature distorts competition for it A study of Competition Enforced by Law,
accords special advantage to certain undertaking operating in Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1966.
the same line of business. [3]. Rodger, B., and Macculloch, A., Competition Law
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Newyork, Routledge- Cavendish, 2009.
[4]. Whish, R. and Bailey, D., Competition Law, 7th Ed,
New York, Oxford University Press, (2012).
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Lundrup Garth (ed), Butterworth Competition Law [1]. Ehlermann C.D. and Goyette, M., “The Interface
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ISSN No:-2456-2165
disciplines on subsidies”, State Aid Law Quarterly 5, [13]. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
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 Workshop and Conference papers D. Cases Law

[1]. Tenga, W.R., “Consumer Protection Model and the i) Domestic Cases
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[2]. Paper presented by the author at the FCC’s CC [2]. Tanzania Breweries Limited v. Serengeti Breweries
Induction Workshop in Morogoro, April 2008. Limited and Fair Competition Commission Tribunal
Appeal No. 4 of 2010[Unreported].
 Dissertations and Theses
[1]. Nordeman, R., “State Aid in the EU-Economic and ii) European Union Cases
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(2008). GmbH, Court of Justice decision in Case C-280/00
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 Reports [2]. Belgium v. Commission (‘Cockerill Sambre’) [2002]
[1]. Communication from the Commission to the European ECR I-1191, Court of Justice decision in Case C-5/01.
Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and [3]. Steinike and Weining v. Germany, Court of Justice
Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, decision in Case C-78/76.
“A Quality Framework for Services of General Interest
in Europe”20.12.2011COM(2011) 900 final.  Internet
[1]. https://ec.europa.eu/info/topics/single-market/services-
C. Statutes general-interest_en, Accessed on 5th January, 2018.
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[1]. Fair Competition Act No. 8 of 2003. general-interest_en, Accessed on 5th January, 2018.
[2]. The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of [3]. https://www.wilmerhale.com/uploadedFiles/WilmerHal
1977. e_Shared_Content/Files/Editorial/Publication/Ehlerman
[3]. The East African Community Competition Act, 2006. n_Goyette.pdf, Accessed on 3rd March, 2018.
[4]. The East African Community Competition Regulations,
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[5]. The Electricity Act, No. 10 of 2008.
[6]. The Energy & Water Utilities Regulatory Authority,
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[7]. The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority
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[8]. The Energy Subsidies Policy, Revised Draft,
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[9]. The Energy Subsidy Policy Revised Draft, December,
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[10]. The Fair Trade Practices Act of 1994.
[11]. The Surface and Marine Transport Authority Act,
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[12]. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Act, No. 10 of
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