A climate project solo-financed and led by Ørsted in the West African country of Gambia is currently facing headwinds. In early June, the Gambian Ministry of Environment accused the so-called Gambia Mangrove Redd+ Project of corruption and ordered an investigation of the project by the State Auditor.
Ørsted's own audit conducted by external experts has not found any irregularities in the project's finances, but the company has nevertheless chosen to suspend its Gambian activities. Ørsted confirmed this to Danwatch. The company did not want to disclose how much money they have invested in the project.
Mangroves are dense, swampy forests of low-growing trees and flats near a river or bay. They are extremely effective at storing carbon and thus an important safeguard against increased CO2 emissions.
To ensure additional savings for its own climate accounts, Ørsted has therefore been working since 2022 to restore damaged mangroves in Gambia.
Head of Department at the Ministry of the Environment, Ebrima Jawara, told Danwatch on June 18 that he expected the investigation into the Ørsted project to be completed within two weeks.
He did not want to provide further details of the corruption charges. However, according to several local media, the investigation is related to the arrest of Mohamed Lamin Kassama, who is head of the agency under the Ministry of the Environment that is involved in Ørsted's mangrove planting. Kassama was detained by the police back in February, but released without charge.
It has not been possible for Danwatch to confirm the information that the arrest is connected to the charges against Ørsted's project.
Local communities hope for restart of project
Representatives from the local communities where the mangrove planting is taking place have, at a large meeting earlier in June, urged the Ministry of the Environment to save the threads so that the project can be restarted as soon as possible.
- With this project, we can feed our families and pay for our children's education, said Sadjo Cessay. During the planting season, he can earn up to 700 dalasi - equivalent to 66 kroner a day - for planting new mangroves.
Danwatch has been in contact with representatives from several of Ørsted's partners in Gambia. None of the organizations have wished to comment on the matter.
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