A preliminary investigation by " Transparence globale " has highlighted technical concerns and potential conflicts of interest involving a parliamentary-owned company contracted for medium-voltage cable work at two Nouakchott substations that suffered major fires.
Two major electrical substation fires in Nouakchott last month have triggered scrutiny of the procurement and installation of medium-voltage cables, after a preliminary report by " Transparence globale " raised concerns over technical compliance and possible conflicts of interest. The organisation's findings point to a company owned by a sitting parliamentarian, CTM Bâtiment, which was responsible for supplying and connecting cables at both affected substations.
The investigation focused on the technical standards of the cables installed by CTM Bâtiment, the company's compliance with project requirements, and the process by which it secured the contracts. According to technical sources cited in the report, the new cables were installed and connected shortly before the fires, and were later disconnected as a precaution after issues emerged. An engineer interviewed by the organisation suggested that non-compliance with technical specifications or errors during installation could be among the causes under consideration.
Procurement Process and Company Experience Under Scrutiny
The report also examined whether CTM Bâtiment met the experience criteria set out in the tender, which required bidders to have completed at least two similar medium-voltage substation projects in the previous five years. While CTM Bâtiment lists the Zoueirat solar power plant project for SNIM as a reference, " Transparence globale " notes that SNIM's own project documentation attributes technical installation work to another company, BGL Energy, with CTM Bâtiment responsible only for construction. This discrepancy, the organisation argues, warrants further verification of the company's technical credentials.
On the procurement side, the report highlights that CTM Bâtiment was provisionally awarded a contract in January 2025 for a 33 kV cable to supply the Idini water station, despite four lower financial bids and competitors with greater technical experience. The award was later annulled following appeals over eligibility. Nevertheless, CTM Bâtiment, sometimes in consortium, secured three additional contracts from SOMELEC, including a $11 million project for new substations and rehabilitation works in Nouakchott, as well as two contracts for agricultural electrification in Hodh El Gharbi worth nearly 1.9 billion ouguiyas. The organisation also notes a four-month delay in the Nouakchott project's implementation, with no financial or administrative penalties imposed.
Technical Evidence and Calls for Independent Audit
" Transparence globale " references video footage reviewed by a SOMELEC official, indicating that the first signs of smoke originated from junction boxes recently connected to the new cables. The report dismisses sabotage and overload theories, noting that the affected substations were not linked to the Idini line, and instead focuses on technical and procedural factors.
The organisation is calling for an independent audit covering the company's technical expertise, the transparency of contract awards, and the technical circumstances preceding the fires. The report follows significant power outages and disruption to essential services in Nouakchott, as previously reported when Mauritania's energy authorities raced to restore electricity after the substation incidents.
Government Response and Next Steps
Following the fires, SOMELEC announced that repairs to both substations were complete and that full capacity had been restored. The government has also initiated reconstruction efforts, and President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has ordered the formation of an independent commission of inquiry. " Transparence globale " has recommended that the commission review surveillance footage, test cable insulation and metal quality, and verify the qualifications of installation personnel. The organisation intends to submit its findings to the Prime Minister and the commission chair as part of the ongoing investigation.
