Eskom charged with contempt of court
Westinghouse has filed an application with the South African high court charging Eskom with contempt of court over the utility's failure to supply documentation under a previous court order.
The filing is the latest move in legal proceedings launched by Westinghouse after Eskom awarded a contract for replacement generators for the Koeberg nuclear power plant to Areva in mid-August. Westinghouse contends that Eskom's decision to award the tender to Areva was flawed and should be reversed. As part of the legal process, the Gauteng Division high court issued an order on 5 September obliging Eskom to produce documents pertaining to its decision on the steam generator tender to Westinghouse within five days.
Westinghouse says its application for contempt of court follows several unsuccessful attempts by the company's legal representatives to obtain important files relating to the tender selection process and decision-making.
"Westinghouse will continue to exercise all of its legal rights to ensure the actions and decisions of the Eskom management during the tender process are transparent," the company said in a statement.
Eskom has already signed a ZAR 4.3 billion ($374 million) contract with Areva for the design, manufacture and installation of the six new steam generators for South Africa's only nuclear power plant. The company has maintained throughout that it stands by its internal processes in awarding the tender.
"Eskom will not conduct litigation through the media, but we can confirm that we have been served with papers in this matter and that we'll oppose it," Eskom told World Nuclear News.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
