Italy prosecutors investigate Genoa dam contract won by Webuild-led consortium

Caltagirone SpA

30/08/2023 16:51

MILAN, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors are
investigating a 928 million euro ($1 billion) contract to build
a dam off the harbour of the northwestern city of Genoa awarded
to a consortium led by Webuild  WBD.MI , a person with direct
knowledge of the investigation said on Wednesday.
    Genoa prosecutors are investigating allegations of
bid-rigging, endangering the safety of people and hindering the
safety of shipping, the person said.
    Webuild, Italy's largest construction company, had no
immediate comment on the matter.
    The person said there are no individual suspects listed at
the moment, adding that the investigation was triggered by a
complaint filed at the beginning of August by a retired
specialist accounting magistrate.
    The complaint called on the judiciary to investigate whether
the tender for the contract, commissioned by the Western
Ligurian Sea Port Authority and financed with EU recovery plan
funds, was tailored to suit the winning consortium.
    In May, an administrative court had upheld an appeal from a
rival consortium, Consorzio Stabile Eteria, composed of the
Gavio, Caltagirone and Icop groups, against the awarding of the
works.
    The case is now pending before a higher administrative
court. Work on the dam is ongoing but the rival consortium could
get compensation if it wins its case.
    Last month, the National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) in
a document indicated eight critical issues in the procedure for
the award of the contract.

 (Reporting by Emilio Parodi
Editing by Keith Weir and Nick Macfie)
 ((emilio.parodi@thomsonreuters.com; +39 06 8030 7744; Reuters
Messaging:))