Electricity theft scandal hits Larache waste management firm

A major scandal has rocked the city of Larache this week, after the local waste management company, “Larache Environnement,” was caught illegally siphoning electricity to power a depot in the city center. The incident, confirmed by the regional water and electricity distribution agency, has triggered public outrage over misconduct by a company entrusted with essential public services.

According to a source at the agency, who spoke to Hespress AR on condition of anonymity, the theft was discovered during a routine inspection. Agency employees found that the company had connected its depot to the electrical grid using unauthorized cables. “We documented the illegal connection in the presence of a legal representative and a court-appointed bailiff,” said the official, adding that a formal report was filed to record the infraction.

“Larache Environnement,” a subsidiary of Casablanca-based parent company Casa Technique, was awarded a seven-year contract in February 2023 to manage waste collection in Larache. The deal is worth 22 million dirhams per year, according to official records.

The official explained that a detailed legal framework governs such violations. “We have a precise and thorough terms-of-reference manual. If theft is detected, it outlines exactly how we calculate the stolen volume and the penalties due,” he said. While the agency declined to estimate the full scope of the theft, it vowed not to downplay or exaggerate the issue, and emphasized its refusal to negotiate or settle such infractions.

Reports suggesting an out-of-court settlement worth several hundred thousand dirhams were firmly denied. “There are no negotiations underway. Electricity theft is a legal offense, and we are applying the law,” the official said.

In response to the accusations, Elias Kebab, operations director at “Larache Environnement,” denied the company’s involvement in any deliberate wrongdoing. He described the incident as an isolated act committed by a single worker without the knowledge or authorization of company leadership. “It was a reckless action by an individual who was simply trying to finish his shift,” Kebab claimed, stressing that the employee had been referred to a disciplinary council.

Kebab rejected the allegations of systematic theft and said no concrete evidence links the company to illegal power use. “The company is being unfairly tarnished by what was essentially a small mistake,” he said.

This is not the first time illegal electricity use has been detected in the Larache province. The regional utility agency reported thousands of similar cases in Larache, Ksar El Kebir, and several surrounding rural communities.

As legal proceedings continue, the case has sparked wider debate about oversight and accountability in public service contracts—particularly in vital sectors like waste management.