Phase 6: Operation & Maintenance
Operation & Maintenance: covers the day-to-day operation of the assets and any preventive or corrective work required to maintain functionality.
Risks identified
Bribery, collusion and intimidation in O&M contract awards and renewals
Bribes or collusion influence the award, renewal, or renegotiation of operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts, locking in poor performance and inflated costs.
Learn more →Inflated O&M costs, kickbacks and overcharging
Operating costs, spare parts, and service charges are inflated through overpricing, unnecessary works, and kickbacks, undermining service quality and project financial sustainability.
Learn more →Ghost operations (fictitious maintenance, parts, or labour)
Maintenance work, parts, or staffing are falsely reported (e.g., ghost workers, phantom services, fictitious parts), enabled by weak asset records and verification controls.
Learn more →Bribery in service connections, tariffs and customer service
Officials or operators demand bribes for new connections, reconnections, priority service, and tariff exemptions, creating unfair access and revenue losses.
Learn more →Political influence in maintenance prioritisation
Maintenance and operational decisions are driven by political influence or private gain rather than technical need, leading to neglected assets and higher lifecycle costs.
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