Eskom says it stopped paying the Gupta-owned Optimum Coal Mine at the beginning of the month because the mine had failed to supply the agreed amount of coal to the utility’s Hendrina Power Station. Eskom revealed this on Thursday as workers at Optimum Coal Mine in Middelburg in Mpumalanga continued their strike for a second day over the uncertainty surrounding the future of the mine. The country’s commercial banks have cut ties with Gupta-owned companies, citing reputational risk, while the only bank that serviced the companies‚ Bank of Baroda‚ will exit SA at the end of March. The Optimum workers wanted assurances from their employer that they will be paid on Friday since the company is experiencing financial problems. But Optimum CEO George van der Merwe could not give this assurance and claimed Eskom was sabotaging its operations by not paying Optimum. However‚ Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said Optimum last supplied the power utility with coal on February 17 and the mine had ind...
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