Local organisations win Medupi transport contract

LEPHALALE – Medupi Power station hosted a signing ceremony between a local business, Lowveld Bus Services, and a local Taxi Association, Boraro Mmogo Investment Company (BMI), that were identified for a transportation contract earlier this month.
“In this instance, Eskom requested its principal contractor, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Africa (MHPSA) to sub-contract 25% of its labour transportation requirement to the duly recognised Lephalale Taxi Associations since Eskom does not conduct business with associations,” said Medupi project manager Philip Dukashe, adding that the essence of the sub-contracting initiative was not only to share economic benefits, but also to transfer skills to BMI and to help it to acquire assets.
Dukashe said Eskom and its contractors have spent more than R3 billion on local suppliers and more than R2 billion on infrastructure development in Lephalale since the start of the project.
“This value will obviously increase as the project progresses.”
“Our contractors have formally trained about 2 700 workers of which 60% are local residents. One hundred and eleven local business owners were trained through Eskom entrepreneurship development initiatives, including the Eskom contractor’s Academy and IKUSASA, and 45 businesses are in incubation with the Lephalale Enterprise Development Centre.”
Lephalale Mayor Jack Maeko said he is impressed with the commitment Eskom has shown towards local empowerment, but he would like to see an even bigger commitment to train and employ women and disabled people from the local communities.
“Our people, with their aspirations and collective determination, are our most important resources. Development is not about the delivery of goods, it is about active involved and growing empowerment. Let us commit ourselves to this cause and move Lephalale forward.”