Ramokgopa refutes 'conflict of interest' claims in Oberholzer scoring R9.5bn battery storage tender
Ramokgopa told MPs on Wednesday there was 'no substantial evidence' to back up allegations of 'conflict of interests' between Eskom and Oberholzer's Mulilo Energy scoring a R9.5bn battery-storage tender, as part of the utility's renewable energy programmes.
Ramokgopa was responding to oral questions from MPs in the National Assembly on Wednesday during the appearance of cabinet ministers in the economic cluster.
MK Party MP Sipho Mbatha, who had put the question to Ramokgopa, had made the allegation of a conflict of interest in the deal between Eskom and Mulilo Energy.
The business transaction has also been slammed by other parties such the EFF, the Black Business Council, and trade unions such the NUM.
But Ramokgopa stuck to his guns, telling lawmakers that no evidence of a conflict of interest or any form of wrongdoing had been found during Eskom's due diligence on the Mulilo transaction.
'Mulilo did comply with the requirement of public disclosure. They made it known to the independent procurement office that its chairperson is a former COO of Eskom.
'And in that regard the IPP office then initiated a process where we sought legal advice from an independent assessor and a determination was made that there was no conflict [of] interest and therefore the process can unfold as determined, and that's how that process then culminated in us issuing the preferred bidder status,' Ramokgopa explained.
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