Pula’s $195m Motsepe claim thrown out of Tanzanian court on a technicality – for now

A Tanzanian court has dismissed Pula Group's $195 million damages claim against companies linked to Patrice Motsepe, though it did not rule on whether confidential information was misused for a competing graphite project. The High Court found that Pula did not include two key companies – Australian-listed Evolution Energy Minerals and its Tanzanian subsidiary Ngwena Tanzania – in the proceedings, which operate the Chilalo graphite project in the Ruangwa district.

Pula alleges that Motsepe and his companies engaged in misconduct, but the court did not make a decision on this matter. The case stems from an agreement signed in 2019 between US-based Pula Group and Australian company ARM, which Pula says involved confidential information, leading to the discovery of ARCH's involvement in the competing project.

The ruling affirms central elements of Pula's claim, including the relationships and common control between the involved entities, but delays its pursuit of justice. Pula has options to appeal, seek a review, or start new proceedings, with the latter citing Evolution and Ngwena as respondents.