Egypt: Benban Solar-05
Case Tracker
Complaint Overview
Two former security guards at Benban Solar Plant.
Working conditions, dismissal from employment.
Project Information
From IFC, $225 million.
Synopsis
The Benban Solar Park is a 36 square-kilometer area composed of 32 operational energy-generating power plants that are operated by different companies near the village of Benban in Egypt.
IFC leads a consortium of nine international banks, providing a debt package totaling $653 million—of which $225 million is financed by IFC. This capital supports the construction of 13 of the 41 solar power plants that make up the Benban Solar Park.
MIGA has 12 active guarantees for projects in the Benban Solar Park. Of these 12 projects, three are financed by the IFC-led consortium, and nine by a consortium led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
On July 19 2022, CAO received a complaint from two security guards of Al Huda Security Company, which is affiliated with Sterling and Wilson, a subcontractor for Benban Solar Park. The security guards claimed that they had been dismissed from employment without reason. The complaint was related to labor conditions in two active IFC projects, with project numbers: 37637 and 39728.
On September 8, 2022, the issues raised in the complaint were deemed eligible to open a case at CAO. The case was referred to IFC, at the request of the affected community members. In October 2022, the community members expressed their desire for the complaint to be referred back to CAO and to end their engagement with IFC. CAO began an assessment of the issues raised in the complaint on October 19, 2022.
An assessment of this case is ongoing.
Note: The CAO assessment process does not entail a judgment on the merits of the complaint; rather, it seeks to understand the facts and empower those involved to make informed decisions on how to address the issues raised.
Status as of December 20, 2022.