June 17, 2021

Reports said a de facto agent and subcontractor of China-based Zhejiang First Hydro & Power Construction Group Co. (First Hydro) offered and paid bribes to two government officials in exchange for a contract

The World Bank on Wednesday debarred a Chinese construction company for two years for a fraudulent and corrupt practice connected to a project in China.

It joins other Chinese companies worldwide including CNEEC Nigeria Limited (Registration No.: RC1112483) operating from No.25, Euphrates Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria which the World Bank debarred from October 27, 2020 –  April 26, 2022 under Conditional Non-debarment for violating Procurement Guidelines.

Chinese companies operating in China, Malaysia and other parts of the world dominate list of debarred companies by the World Bank for offences ranging from bribery for contract to procurement abuse or for being affiliates of sanctioned entities. Debarred companies are forbidden to engage in any contract bid and execution of project therefrom for the period of the debarment.

Reports said a de facto agent and subcontractor of China-based Zhejiang First Hydro & Power Construction Group Co. (First Hydro) offered and paid bribes to two government officials in exchange for a contract.

First Hydro also misrepresented its intent to mobilize the resources required to implement the contract as well as the availability of experts proposed in its bid.

Those are corrupt and fraudulent practices, respectively, the World Bank said.

The $127 million World Bank-funded Guangxi Laibin Water Environment Project was designed to reduce flood risks and improve drainage in selected areas of the city of Laibin.

As part of the settlement, the company also committed to continue fully cooperating with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.

Wednesday’s debarment was significantly reduced in light of First Hydro’s extraordinary cooperation and voluntary remedial actions, the World Bank said.

During the two-year debarment, First Hydro is ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by the World Bank Group.

The debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.