Algeria: Sonelgaz rebuts Lavalin deal allegations

Algerian gas and electricity utility Sonelgaz has issued a detailed and indignant rebuttal to allegations that the contract it awarded to Montreal-based contractor SNC-Lavalin in early 2006 to build the 1,200MW Hadjeret Ennouss generation plant at Cherchell, west of Algiers, was not competitive. Since Lavalin was dragged into the widening ‘Sonatrach-2’ corruption scandal following revelations that it also used Farid Bedjaoui as a business intermediary, scrutiny of its business has widened beyond its multi-billion dollar order book with the national oil and gas company.