Eskom has rejected claims its R587m prepayment to Tegeta Exploration and Resources for the provision of coal was made so that the Gupta-owned company could gather funds to buy Optimum Coal from Glencore. Optimum supplied Tegeta with the coal needed to fulfil the Eskom contract. The prepayment was allegedly made hours after several banks had declined to provide Tegeta with the R600m shortfall for the R2.15bn purchase of Optimum Coal. Daily Maverick reported on Friday that Eskom executives had agreed on the R587m prepayment during a special late-night tender committee meeting on April 11, and that Tegeta had used this money two days later to help pay for Optimum Coal. The report read the Eskom decision was made six hours after the banks had refused to give the Guptas a R600m loan for the purchase. "The fact that Eskom also agreed to pay the money up front reinforces the impression of preferential treatment," Daily Maverick’s article read.
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