St Louis gate

Saint Louis Gate or St Louis Gate or Turbine Gate is a 2020 corruption case involving political appointees of the Government of Mauritius, employees of the Central Electricity Board (CEB) and Danish firm Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC).[1] [2]

Background

In 2014 a tender package was issued by the CEB for a major upgrade[3] of an existing diesel power station at St. Louis, on the outskirts of capital city Port Louis.[4] Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) of Denmark was awarded the contract by the Mauritian power-generating entity Central Electricity Board (CEB). In 2018 a whistleblower alerted the financier African Development Bank (ADB) that the award to BWSC occurred after bribes had been received by several CEB employees through an intermediary of BWSC who owns a Mauritian construction company. ADB investigated the claims and thus excluded BWSC from all future work for 21 months.[5][6]

Revelations

In early June 2020 Leader of Opposition Arvin Boolell raised this issue in the Parliament.[7] Shortly after the entire Management Team of CEB was stood down on 14 June 2020 by the Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth who appointed a new Board of Management.[8] [9] As more details surrounding the St Louis Gate scandal became public the Opposition highlighted the need for a detailed enquiry and also requested the dismissal or resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister involved.[10] Observers also questioned the basis for the significant capital expenditures, given the remote risk of a power black-out on the island.[11]

References
  1. "The Fight Against Fraud and Corruption". All Africa. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. "Turbine Gate : démission du DPM Collendavelloo et du Chairman du CEB réclamée par le PMSD". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  3. "2014 St Louis Power-Plant Redevelopment Project" (PDF). African Development Bank. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  4. "CEB: 4 New Generators Will Be Installed in St. Louis". Business Mega. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  5. "Scandale allégué: c'est quoi le St-Louis Gate?". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  6. "Integrity: African Development Bank debars Burmeister & Wain for fraudulent and corrupt practices". afdb.org. African Development Bank. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  7. "CEB Turbines". You Tube. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  8. "St-Louis Gate : l'Acting General Manager du CEB suspendu". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  9. "Scandale Rs 4,3 milliards à la Station de St Louis: Révocation du Board du CEB". Inside News. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  10. Valayden, Rajen. "St Louis Gate is only the tip of the iceberg". mauritiustimes.com. Mauritius Times. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  11. "The Key to St Louis Gate". Capital Media. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
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