The Togo Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s Dispute Resolution Committee (CRD) delivered a landmark decision on June 19, 2026, closing a high-stakes inquiry into alleged procedural flaws in the international tender for the Lomé power grid expansion project (PEREL PLUS). Ruling under decision number 024-2026, the CRD definitively dismissed all accusations of irregularities lodged against the tender process numbered 003/DPI/PRMP/DG/CEET/2026.

Following a thorough investigation and direct testimony from the Chief Procurement Officer of the Togo Electricity Company (CEET), the Committee confirmed that the denunciations lacked factual basis and were entirely unfounded.

Lomé power grid expansion tender withstands scrutiny

Two anonymous complaints were filed with the ARCOP Togo on March 28 and April 8, 2026, each alleging multiple procedural violations in the tender managed by the CEET. Among the criticisms were claims that:

• a restricted list of bidders was used without prior prequalification;
• an overwhelming number of foreign companies were participating;
• the contract was not divided into smaller, manageable lots;
• and stringent qualification criteria had been improperly reinstated.

In response, the CRD’s investigation uncovered clear evidence that the tender procedure was rigorously structured around an official prequalification phase. Official documents confirm that out of 15 expressions of interest, exactly nine candidates met the stringent prequalification requirements and were formally shortlisted.

PEREL PLUS tender gains approval from key oversight bodies

Further documentation reveals that the PEREL PLUS tender is part of a broader financing package coordinated with the Agence française de développement. The tender dossier received formal clearance from both the National Directorate of Public Procurement Control (DNCCP Togo) and the French Development Agency (AFD), reinforcing its compliance with international funding standards.

The CRD emphasized that in projects financed through external resources, the regulatory frameworks of the funding partners take precedence over certain national procurement rules—particularly in areas such as lot structuring and bidder eligibility assessments.