Siemens responds through Shafaq News to corruption allegations in Iraq

Shafaq News / The German "Siemens" Energy Company denied on Monday concluding any contract with the Iraqi government to implement a project to rebuild generating stations in Baiji district in Salahuddin Governorate.

"Until this moment, we have not received any allegations of violations related to Siemens Energy. The company does not currently have any contracts to implement a project to rebuild power plants in Baiji," said the director of media relations at Siemens for the Middle East, in an explanation to Shafaq News.

“The company adheres to its zero-tolerance approach to any practices related to corruption or any violations of the principles of fair competition or other forms of violation of laws. If violations occurred, anywhere, the company will take immediate and decisive action. Furthermore, Siemens obligates all its suppliers and business partners to abide by the laws of conduct related to the implementation of laws, which are based on the ten principles set forth in the United Nations Global Trade Agreement. "

"All the main partners, suppliers and contractors of the company, including Orascom Construction Industries in Baiji power plant reconstruction project, which is currently on hold, have all signed an agreement requiring them to comply with all established policies, laws and codes of conduct,” the director added.

She noted that "the company signed an initial agreement in September of last year as part of a coalition with Orascom Construction Industries to rebuild Baiji 1 and 2 power stations . However, no contract has been signed yet and the financial closure of the project has not been achieved, Consequently, the coalition did not receive any financial payments. "

" Siemens company is proud of its presence and long history in the State of Iraq for more than eighty years and the company maintains its commitment to the state, especially in light of this difficult period. The company also boasts that more than 40% of the electric energy in Iraq is generated depending on the technologies of the company ".

The director concluded by saying that "in the light of the foregoing and the keenness of your website to publish opinion and differing views and investigate objectivity and credibility in the news, we ask that you to delete this news from your website or publish the official comment of the company on it.

On Sunday, MP Alia Nassif announced that the Commission of Integrity terminated Baiji plant contract and recovered an amount of $ 500 million.

Nassif said in a statement today that saving such an amount from theft by the corrupt will contribute, at least partially, to reducing the repercussions of the financial crisis.

"On 16/16/2019, we have previously disclosed the biggest corruption scandal carried out by the higher authorities in the Ministry of Electricity, which includes contracting with the coalition of German Siemens and Egyptian Orascom to rehabilitate Baiji electrical plant at a value of one billion and 300 million dinars, although the important parts of the station like turbines existed and was not damaged during the entry of ISIS, then we published another statement on 11/24/2019 warning us that a higher authority in the ministry was trying to hide evidence about this contract and to charge one of the general managers. ”