Iraqi minister sacked over 'irregularities'
Source: Agencies |
August 8, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IRAQI Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has dismissed his electricity minister after the government said an investigation had uncovered irregularities in power contracts with two foreign companies, a source in Maliki's office said yesterday.
The electricity ministry also said it had asked the Cabinet to rule on a US$2.76 billion power plant construction contract with a unit of South Korea's STX Group after saying the company risked missing a deadline to meet one of its contract terms.
The dismissal of electricity minister Raad Shallal, which under Iraqi law has to be approved by parliament, could complicate government efforts to attract investors to tackle chronic electricity shortages that have infuriated Iraqis looking to rebuild their economy.
A government ombudsman said on Saturday that Iraq had canceled power plant contracts worth US$1.7 billion with Canadian and German companies after uncovering "manipulation and misleading information" about their finances or ability to carry out the work.
But a senior official in the electricity ministry defended the contracts, saying the companies had agreed to continue construction with favorable conditions.
The electricity ministry also said it had asked the Cabinet to rule on a US$2.76 billion power plant construction contract with a unit of South Korea's STX Group after saying the company risked missing a deadline to meet one of its contract terms.
The dismissal of electricity minister Raad Shallal, which under Iraqi law has to be approved by parliament, could complicate government efforts to attract investors to tackle chronic electricity shortages that have infuriated Iraqis looking to rebuild their economy.
A government ombudsman said on Saturday that Iraq had canceled power plant contracts worth US$1.7 billion with Canadian and German companies after uncovering "manipulation and misleading information" about their finances or ability to carry out the work.
But a senior official in the electricity ministry defended the contracts, saying the companies had agreed to continue construction with favorable conditions.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
