The World Bank debarred a state-owned Chinese engineering and construction company Wednesday for 20 months for fraud involving a project in the Republic of Zambia.
China Energy Engineering Group Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd (CEEC-HEPDI) is ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects during the 20-month debarment.
CEEC-HEPDI fraudulently falsified documents describing past contract experience, litigation history, and business credentials to meet the requirements of the bidding documents, the World Bank said.
The $210 million World Bank funded project was designed to improve the transmission of electricity in the Lusaka area of Zambia.
The company ultimately won the contract.
CEEC-HEPDI is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange and employs over 160,000 people.
Also listed in the debarment for the same period as the parent are Hunan Kechuang Power Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Hunan Kexin Electric Power Design Co., Ltd., and Hunan Zhongtian Engineering Supervision Co., Ltd.
As a condition of the settlement, CEEC-HEPDI committed to developing an integrity compliance program consistent with the principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines and to continue fully cooperating with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
Wednesday’s 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.
A list of all World Bank debarred entities and individuals is here.
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Harry Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
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