Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani received a report from the committee investigating the fires at the state-owned power company Société Mauritanienne de l'Electricité (SOMLEC). The report, submitted by the committee's head Othman Kane, identifies breaches of contract by construction company CTM and consulting firm IRAF. The committee's findings highlight a series of contractual and procedural failures that contributed to the fires.
According to the report, CTM, a construction company owned by a Mauritanian parliamentarian, used an undocumented certificate in its bid for the SOMLEC project. The certificate was not approved by the issuing authority, the National Industrial and Mining Company (SNIM). Additionally, CTM changed the specifications of the project without providing evidence of conformity tests on the installed cables.
The committee also found that CTM delivered cables that did not meet the contract requirements. Furthermore, the company exceeded the contractual deadline and failed to renew insurance coverage for the project, which had expired. These breaches of contract have significant implications for the project's overall success and the safety of the power plant.
The committee also criticized IRAF, the consulting firm, for failing to conduct a thorough evaluation of the project's documentation. IRAF was also found to have inadequate reporting and a lack of representation at key project meetings. The firm approved the project's progress despite concerns raised and failed to provide sufficient justification for services rendered.
The committee's report also identifies several high-ranking officials who bear functional responsibility for the fires. These officials include Energy and Oil Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled, the ministry's Secretary General Ali Siély Somaré, and SOMLEC's Director-General Sidi Ould Salem. Current and former SOMLEC officials, including Managing Director Ahmedou Ould Mohamedou and Distribution Manager, are also implicated.
In addition to individual officials, the committee's report also identifies institutional failures. The Ministry of Energy and Oil, as the project's sponsor, and SOMLEC, as the project's delegate and operator, are both held responsible for the fires. The report's findings highlight a broader pattern of neglect and incompetence within the country's energy sector.
The committee's report marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the SOMLEC fires. President Ghazouani's receipt of the report signals a commitment to addressing the failures and breaches that contributed to the disaster. The government is expected to take further action in response to the report's findings, potentially including disciplinary measures against those implicated.
Key points
- The committee's report identifies breaches of contract by construction company CTM and consulting firm IRAF.
- High-ranking officials, including Energy and Oil Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled, are implicated in the report.
- The report highlights institutional failures within the Ministry of Energy and Oil and SOMLEC.
