⚠️ Energy at What Cost? MK Party Demands Full Disclosure on R9.5bn Tender Award
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, is calling for urgent transparency in the awarding of a R9.5 billion battery storage tender to Mulilo Energy and Scatec, amid allegations of potential favoritism and conflicts of interest.
The tender, announced on May 30, 2025, by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, is part of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) Bid Window 3, aimed at boosting grid stability and reducing load-shedding.
🧾 Who Got What?
- Mulilo Energy (chaired by former Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer) secured 4 of the 5 Free State battery projects, totaling 493 MW.
- Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy firm, was awarded 123 MW.
- Combined, the projects deliver 616 MW / 2,464 MWh of battery capacity.
Mulilo has now won 12 of 18 projects across three bid windows — a dominance the MK Party claims warrants scrutiny.
🕵️ Allegations and Demands
The MK Party has:
- Questioned the fairness and independence of the adjudication process
- Demanded release of all bid-adjudication documents
- Threatened parliamentary inquiries and legal action to enforce accountability
“The public deserves to know whether the playing field was level, or if politically connected figures are once again benefiting behind closed doors,” said an MK Party spokesperson.
🔗 The Oberholzer Factor
Much of the controversy centres on Jan Oberholzer’s ties to Eskom, where he served as COO during a tumultuous period for South Africa’s power utility. His move to chair Mulilo Energy has fueled concerns over insider advantage and revolving-door politics.
Social media has lit up with criticism, with many questioning whether B-BBEE compliance alone is enough to justify the outcome when public trust is at stake.
📉 Bid Window 3: Cheaper but Still Contested
Despite concerns, Bid Window 3 saw bids 40% cheaper than Window 1, which Minister Ramokgopa hailed as proof of market efficiency and a step toward a low-carbon, resilient energy system.
Mulilo CEO Jan Fourie praised the win, calling it a “transformational moment” for South Africa’s energy future.
⚖️ Transparency vs. Transformation?
While the procurement appears to align with energy policy goals, the lack of detailed disclosure threatens to erode confidence in what should be a landmark moment in the country’s energy transition.
