11 corruption scandals shake Naftal

Algeria’s security forces opened and investigation into 11 corruption-related cases involving the National Company of Petrol Products Distribution (Naftal) which concluded suspicious deals, exaggerated invoiced and squandered public money, Echorouk has learnt.

According to a detailed report, Algerian-French company Batenco was assigned to renew tar centers in the province of Bejaia (east of Algeria) and Algiers for 40 million DZ. Related invoices were exaggerated and delivery was delayed.

The second case involved a number of private companies which won Naftal’s projects and caused a 24-month-delay. Those projects led to losses due to deadline extension and non respect of contractual clauses.

According to the same report, a large number of Naftal’s employees are cousins, friends and brothers / sisters-in-law from union members, officials and central directors’ family. Three to six persons from the same family work in the company.

The investigation is underway into non respect of public deal clauses by the company concerning equipments acquisition.

The fifth case is related to deals which were not in conformity with legislation with a Spanish company to buy 100 wagons to transport hydrocarbons.

Fuel products and gasoline repeated stealing is mentioned in the report. In 2010, a total of 200,000 cubic meters of gasoline disappeared followed by 250,000 cubic meters of fuel products in 2012 in extraordinary conditions.

Security forces also investigate into employment process management and exaggerated intervention of union’s members. Doubtful conditions are related to acquisition of a tar transport park and anarchical employment of big truck drivers.

According to the same source, Naftal hired vehicles from private sector to transport hydrocarbons without signing any contract. The company exceeded legal limit of providing tar to some clients in Algiers, Oran and Setif.

The report said the national company’s marketing department was involved in stealing fuel products, counterfeiting, using three invoices with three different stamps for a unique supplier and exaggerating invoices.