Morupule B P8bn contract dispute heads to Parly
Friday, May 26, 2017
Parliament is currently on recess and will only resume business in July. Japanese contractor, Marubeni and Co. was last year awarded the tender to expand Morupule B power plant by another 300MW (Unit 5&6), but, at the last minute, demanded a P8.5 billion ($804 million) surety upfront as security for any potential payment defaults by the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).
Unit 5&6 is Botswana’s first Independent Power Producers (IPP) project where the contractor funds the construction of the power station and recoup their investment from selling the power to BPC.
The findings reveal a disturbing pattern of misconduct and lack of transparency that cannot be ignored.The Tribunal, led by Judge President Justice Kabelo Lebotse, has rightly condemned the Ministry for its eyebrow raising conduct in awarding a P1.8 billion water tender to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Pty) Ltd and Zhong Gan Engineering & Construction Corporation (Pty) Ltd.The award was made despite alleged clear evidence that...