This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from a U4 Partner Agency. The U4 Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International in collaboration with the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based at the Chr. Michelsen Institute.
Query
Please provide a summary of the key corruption risks and potential mitigation measures in electromobility in Peru.
Summary
Electromobility in Peru is still an emerging field, and the country has yet to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for it. As a result, the corruption risks specific to the sector remain largely unexplored. Internationally, the most documented corruption risks related to electromobility stem from the extraction of the minerals needed for battery production. Strengthening due diligence practices and ensuring transparency across the supply chain are essential measures to mitigate these risks.
Main points
- Peru is vulnerable to corruption risks, as exemplified by the Lava Jato scandal. These vulnerabilities can increase and be exploited in growing sectors like electromobility.
- There are significant governance and transparency challenges across the electromobility supply chain, particularly at the extraction stage. In Peru, weaknesses in concession processes, limited beneficial ownership disclosure, persistent illegal mining linked to the REINFO registry and emerging political dynamics that may weaken oversight can all create structural vulnerabilities. Although lithium extraction is not yet commercially developed at scale, its designation as a strategic resource and the growing global demand for copper linked to the energy transition may intensify investment pressures in a context of fragmented oversight. Mitigation measures should therefore prioritise responsible, transparent and traceable mining practices.
- In Peru, corruption risks in public procurement more broadly are high, with documented collusion schemes to distribute public work contracts and with public entities contracting providers already disqualified from contracting with the state.
- Public-private partnerships have shown corruption risks regarding the negotiation of addendums to their contracts. Some of these addendums are made without technical studies to support them, while others adjust the cost of the contract because the first phase of the bidding process lacked project studies. This has allowed for cases of “aggressive bidding”, where companies present very low-cost proposals and then renegotiate the terms of the contract once they are awarded the projects.
- A major corruption risk in the electricity sector is the phenomenon of revolving doors, which refers to the movement of individuals between public office, particularly in regulatory and legislative positions, and private companies. They can lead to the prioritisation of private gain over public interest and regulatory capture.
Authors
Gabriela Camacho
Reviewers
Caitlin Maslen (TI) and Pamela Alejandra Alvarez Tapia (Proética)
Date
02/04/2026
