The Guardian newspaper reported earlier this week that a shortlisted Belgian contractor had instigated complaint proceedings against the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon contract being awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company.
Now the BBC has revealed that the complainant is Jan de Nul, which has a UK office in Ascot.
According to the BBC report, Jan de Nul’s objection centres on the relationship between China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) with Tidal Lagoon Power’s consulting engineer, WS Atkins. CHEC and Atkins signed a memorandum of understanding for global strategic cooperation in April 2014.
CHEC chairman Mo Wenhe said at the time: "The cooperation with Atkins is vital for us to maintain our leading position as an international contractor and gain more competitiveness in the global market.”
The Belgian government has written formally to the UK government on behalf of Jan de Nul to inquire whether the contract award procedure was fair.
Earlier this month CHEC was named preferred bidder for the £300m marine works contract on its Swansea Bay scheme in exchange for introducing the Tidal Lagoon Power to Chinese opportunities. The Chinese contractor will build six miles of lagoon wall in Swansea Bay.
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