Ex-Eskom executive battery tender win raises concerns of insider advantage

THE Black Business Council (BBC) has sharply criticised the awarding of a multi-billion-rand battery storage contract to Mulilo Energy, a company chaired by former Eskom Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer.

- MTHOBISI NOZULELA and THABO MAKWAKWA

Oberholzer served as Eskom’s COO from 2018 until July 2023, a period marked by significant challenges for the utility, including aging infrastructure, financial difficulties, and worsening load-shedding.

The battery storage program, launched in March 2024, aims to bolster the country’s electricity grid by storing excess solar power generated during the day and releasing it during peak demand in the mornings and evenings.

At a recent press briefing, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientso Ramokgopa confirmed that Mulilo Energy, alongside Norwegian firm Scatec, has been selected as the preferred bidder for the project.

However, the BBC has raised serious concerns about this decision.

The organisation argues that Oberholzer and former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter presided over a period that “nearly collapsed Eskom” and left South Africa facing persistent load-shedding".

“Given the circumstances, the BBC is deeply concerned that Oberholzer may have had insider knowledge of Eskom’s requirements, which could have given his company an unfair advantage over other bidders.

“This raises serious questions about his credibility and ethics,” said BBC CEO Kganki Matabane.