The Ministry accepted tender materials until 15.00 on October 16 of this year and opened proposals with five foreign and one local company. The L-Systech consortium, with Boineks and Pro-Tinker said they could provide the services with the lowest cost, the only criteria to win the tender.

However, official results of the tender were delayed for more than 20 days. During this period Consortium officials said they appealed to meet with the B. Edenebat, the Minister of Fuel and Energy, two times and made repeated phone calls regarding the tender, to which Ministry officials said that the tender process was not complete.

“Recently, on Friday afternoon when B.Erdenebat, Minister of Fuel and Energy informed that the bidding is going to be announced again we were completely shocked,” Roberts said on Thursday.

“The price that our consortium proposed and met with condition to win for the bidding was US $296.5, which is US $23.5 cheaper than the price that B. Erdenebat, Minister of Fuel and Energy informed about at the Parliament session.”

According to the government decree #127 obtained by MonInfo, MNT 9.2 billion will be utilized for the renewable energy project throughout the countryside, an amount which was underbid by nearly US $1 million according to L-Systech representatives.

“The tender selection was announced to be resolved within 7-14 days, however no official response about the selection has yet been given to us,” Roberts said.

T. Tserenpurev, State Secretary of the Ministry of Fuel and Energy said “I am not sure about the statement that the Minister made during the Parliament session. I consider that he answered a question asked from other MPs about how provines and soums are working responsibly in relation to the implementation of the “100,000 solar lights” project.”

“I know that the tender period is about to finish. All issues to be resolved were submitted to the Ministry of Finance. They will soon give feedback according to the law,” he said.

Another Ministry official said that L-Systech’s bid, even though it was the lowest, was still not within the proposed budget of the tender.

M. Enebish, Head of the Renewable Electricity Center said, “It is mentioned in the Government’s decree that 50 percent of MNT 16 billion is required for providing 50 thousand solar converters is financed by the Government and the remaining percentage is funded by herders themselves.”

“L-Systech’s consortium price proposal is more than the budget. It is improper to make such a statement before the final tender result has been completed. Companies that participated in the tender can submit complaints within 5 days after the tender evaluation is completed.”