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The founder and chairman of African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP), Dr Patrice Motsepe today held a media conference to discuss the allegations and suspicions of improper plans and strategies which implicates AREP and relates to Eskom and the alleged roles by the Minister of Energy, Mr. Jeff Radebe and President Cyril Ramaphosa who are both his brothers-in-law.

AREP was formed in 2012 and one of its main objectives was to utilize modern technology and renewable energy technologies to provide affordable electricity in South Africa and on the African continent.

In the context of South Africa’s high unemployment rate, AREP’s commitment is to use technology to create new jobs and to participate and contribute to creating transitional plans and strategies, to provide new skills for employees and particularly coal miners so that no workers will lose their jobs because of the new technology and renewable energy plants.

AREP’s holding company is the only African company that is a partner in the Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) which was started in 2016 by Bill Gates after the 2015 Paris Climate Change Talks and includes several globally respected business leaders like Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Jack Ma, Mukesh Ambani and others. The goal of BEV is to use technology and innovation to provide clean energy that does not contribute to climate change.

Brian Dames was appointed as CEO in 2014. After evaluating and pursuing various renewable energy projects, AREP and its partner Jinko Solar submitted an offer in April 2016, to SunEdison, an American company, to acquire the 6 solar photovoltaic projects which SunEdison was awarded by the Department of Energy in April / June 2015. AREP was not successful as SunEdison decided to sell to Old Mutual.

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Issued by The African Rainbow Energy and Power