Mohale FM CONTROVERSIAL Ministry of Energy Principal Secretary, Tankiso Phapano, has once again found himself at the centre of a major procurement controversy following the awarding of a M55 million contract to upgrade the Ha-Tikoe Substation.
The controversy has been compounded by allegations that Mr Phapano lacked the legal authority to issue the award letter, with sources insisting that only the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) Managing Director or the designated project manager could formally award the contract.
The project, valued at M55,065,019.19, was awarded to Chinese firm, Jiangsu Etern, despite objections from stakeholders and now suspended LEC Managing Director, Mohlo mi Seitlheko, who maintained that both the World Bank and the project’s Steering Committee had suspended the project pending the completion of the Ha Belo Substation. Ha Belo works are yet to be completed.
At the centre of the dispute are claims that the World Bank, which is funding both pro jects under the Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP), directed that resources be prioritized towards completing the delayed Ha Belo Substation before work could proceed on Tikoe.
