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 and Danish firm Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor.

Background

In 2014 a tender package was issued by the CEB for a major upgrade of an existing diesel power station at St. Louis, on the outskirts of capital city Port Louis. Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor of Denmark was awarded the contract by the Mauritian power-generating entity Central Electricity Board. In 2018 a whistleblower alerted the financier African Development Bank 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.

Revelations

In early June 2020 Leader of Opposition Arvin Boolell raised this issue in the Parliament. 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. 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. Observers also questioned the basis for the significant capital expenditures, given the remote risk of a power black-out on the island.