The largest corruption case in the Algerian energy sector prompted the Sonatrach group to define its plan to combat manifestations of corruption practices and bribery transactions, phenomena that toppled several officials in this sector, including ministers, general managers, and others, whose cases are still being discussed in the corridors of the courts.
In order to avoid repeating previous scenarios that dragged Sonatrach to the judiciary, the President and Director General of the Corporation, Taoufik Hakkar, signed today, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, a policy statement and a code of conduct for combating corruption and bribery in Sonatrach, in accordance with the international standard ISO 37001, related to the anti-corruption and bribery management system.
principles of the new plan
Sonatrach’s anti-corruption and bribery policy includes the company’s principles and obligations in this regard, and aims to put in place control and prevention mechanisms that prohibit corruption and contribute to promoting a culture of ethics in Sonatrach’s various transactions and activities, in order to avoid a repeat of the largest corruption case in the Algerian energy sector, which took place in 2007.
The Anti-Corruption and Bribery Code of Conduct provides several guidelines, and sets out the basic principles and standards for compliance with anti-corruption and bribery provisions and laws that the company applies to all its employees, partners and suppliers alike.
Sonatrach seeks, through its adoption of a policy and code of conduct to combat corruption and bribery, which is the first of its kind in Algeria, to promote a culture of ethical transactions within the company, and to establish the principle of transparency and good governance, in accordance with applicable national and international standards and standards in the field of combating corruption and bribery.
The Minister of Energy is strict in implementing the plan
During the signing ceremony of Sonatrach’s policy statement and code of conduct for combating corruption and bribery, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, affirmed the corporation’s keenness, as a national institution of international stature, to establish an effective and integrated system that guarantees compliance with the best international standards, by adhering to the best international practices in the field of integrity and transparency to suit Management system using modern management methods.
The minister, in his capacity as head of what is known as the “governance body” of Sonatrach, is committed to working to develop all human and material means to ensure strict application of the anti-corruption system.
The minister referred to Sonatrach’s efforts in this regard, including training its executives, with specialists at the Algerian Institute for Standardization, on the mechanisms of the “ISO 37001” system for managing anti-corruption and bribery, as the team benefiting from this specialized training will work on the success of the task of developing and implementing this system, which relies on control mechanisms and transparent management. .
Valuing the credibility of Sonatrach internationally
Mohamed Arkab said that adopting the new system by Sonatrach would add transparency in transactions, take appropriate decisions and effectively manage investment projects. In order to further enhance the credibility of Sonatrach in the global market.
The first official in charge of the energy sector referred to what the law stipulates in this regard, as the Algerian legislator gave great importance to combating corruption in its various policies, and created several specialized bodies in this field, as well as the role of many oversight agencies to besiege and resist this phenomenon, and to enhance confidence. Among the bodies entrusted with the task of prevention and combating corruption is the supreme authority for transparency and the prevention and control of corruption.
On this basis, it was established pursuant to Law 08-22 of May 05, 2022 emanating from the provisions of the Constitution related to this matter, as the Central Bureau for the Suppression of Corruption, which was established under Article 24 bis of Law No. 06-01 related to preventing and combating corruption, is one of the mechanisms Work to search, investigate and examine crimes, and then combat them, as Algeria aims, through these efforts and measures, to reach a work environment characterized by transparency and corruption-free performance, in order to improve its classification in terms of the internationally approved corruption index.
Corruption cases rocked the energy sector
Sonatrach’s signing of the Code of Conduct for Combating Corruption and Bribery brings to mind the series of corruption cases that rocked the Algerian energy sector, which has continued for years since the Italian judiciary blew up the file of the corruption case, whose hero was the President, former Minister of Energy, Chakib Khalil, and figures close to him, on charges of mediation for the Italian company Saipem, and pushed Bribes between 2007 and 2009 to obtain 7 contracts in Algeria, estimated at 8 billion euros (8.7 billion US dollars), after which the Algerian justice opened an investigation into what is known as the Sonatrach 1 and Sonatrach 2 files, which has become the largest corruption case in the Algerian energy sector.
Subsequently, investigations into corruption cases continued, revealing secrets that overthrew many officials in the sector, most notably the president and former general manager of the complex, Mohamed Meziane, when, on February 2, 2016, the Algerian Judicial Council issued sentences ranging from 18 months to 6 years in prison, including suspended. 12 defendants, including the former Sonatrach official, were accused of concluding deals that violate legislation, granting undue privileges, abuse of position, conflict of interests, and money laundering.
The most recent case was the arrest of the president, former general manager of Sonatrach, Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour, in March 2021 (he managed the complex between 2017 and 2019), based on an international memorandum issued against him, at the request of the Algerian judiciary, as he is pursuing corruption cases, including “concession.” about fields in oil projects in the desert of Algeria for foreign companies, including the Spanish company Repsol and the French Total, in addition to other charges, most notably the conclusion of deals in violation of legislation, embezzlement and waste of public funds,” as well as the case of Sonatrach’s purchase of the Augusta refinery in Italy.
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