Ramokgopa again rebuffs conflict-of-interest allegations in battery storage tender

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has again rebuffed allegations of a conflict of interest in the selection of independent power producer (IPP) Mulilo as a preferred bidder during the recent public procurement of battery energy storage systems (BESS) at pre-selected substation sites. Besides defending the integrity of the BESS procurement process overseen by the IPP Office during a nearly four-hour meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy on June 26, the Minister also responded to questions posed by members of Parliament from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and Economic Freedom Fighters during a plenary session in the National Assembly later that afternoon.