(August 9, 1999) International construction companies bribe top official in large dam project for South Africa. Scandal highlights urgency of implementing OECD Convention against international corruption.
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Corruption heightens flood risk for millions of Chinese
The lives of millions of Chinese living near the swollen Yangtze River are being endangered by corrupt officials stealing cash intended to pay for dyke reinforcements and disaster relief.
Capital raised for dam project
The Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, which is in charge of the project, has made an effort to find new channels. In the first six months of this year, it received 3.4 billion yuan (US$409 million) from corporate bonds, interbank loans and foreign loans.
Lesotho project firms ‘linked to scandals’
(August 5, 1999) Six of the dozen international companies implicated in the multimillion-rand Lesotho Highlands Water Project bribery case have been linked to other dam-building scandals.
Snags and sleaze hit Yangtze dam
China’s leaders have ordered urgent measures to bring the controversial Three Gorges Dam project under control following admissions that it is plagued by corruption, shoddy construction and fears of environmental damage.
Yangtze to get 2 dams, power plants
(August 5, 1999) China plans to build two big hydroelectric power stations on the upper reaches of Yangtze River beginning at the turn of the century. The China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corp.(CTGPC) proposal to build two hydroelectric power plants has won approval of the State Development Planning Commission. The two projects would be located in Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba along the Jinshajiang River, with an installed power generating capacity expected to reach 12,000 megawatts and 6,000 megawatts. Building may begin as early as 2002.
Bribes by major international dam-building companies taint World Bank-funded Lesotho water project
(August 2, 1999) A dozen major international dam-building companies involved in the World Bank-funded Lesotho Highlands Water Project(LHWP) have lavishly bribed at least one top official on the project.
Bribery case highlights failings
(August 2, 1999) The multimillion-rand bribery and corruption case involving a former boss of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project could test the industrialized world’s resolve to curb the offering of bribes by international business.
Official faces charges over R12m bribes
(July 29, 1999) The Lesotho government yesterday charged its former top official at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Masupha Sole, with taking R12m in bribes from a dozen international companies over 10 years.
Faulty Three Gorges dam unstoppable, says critic
(July 20, 1999) Chinese engineer predicts powerful vested interests won’t allow project’s cancellation
Lesotho dam’s sea of debt could drown water conservation efforts
(July 15, 1999) On June 4 the World Bank approved a loan for Mohale Dam, the second of five large dams in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).
News briefs
Three Gorges Probe July 9, 1999
(i) China’s Flood Defense Ministry Diverted Funds into Real Estate and Stock Market, Auditor Reports
(ii) Yangtze Floodwaters Force Closure of Three Gorges Ship Lock
(iii) Three Gorges Bond Traded on Shanghai Market
State council to confiscate water ministry’s luxury hotel complex
PRESS RELEASE State council to confiscate water ministry’s luxury hotel complex
(July 6, 1999) As millions of Chinese brace themselves for this year’s flood season, state auditors have discovered that the Ministry of Water Resources, the agency responsible for the country’s flood defense system, has diverted millions of dollars into real estate and the stock market.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 