Minister wants probes in power, gas companies

BELGRADE Zorana Mihajlovic says request have been made for the business of the state-run power company EPS and the natural gas public company Srbijagas "to be examined". "We asked the police to examine the manner in which EPS imported electricity and carried out its overhauls," Zorana Mihajlovic told Belgrade's Kurir tabloid. Minister wants probes in power, gas companies "When it comes to Srbijagas, we are asking for their business with too many suppliers and middlemen to be examined. We must know where the money went," said the minister. According to Mihajlovic - whose portfolio in the new government also includes environmental protection - the problems were present not only in the energy, but also in the environment sector, "where little was done, while a lot of money was spent". The Environmental Protection Fund had at its disposal an annual budget of at least RSD 3.5 to 4.5 billion, Mihajlovic continued, and noted that it had been set up three years ago. However, the minister said she "saw no evidence of recycling plants, such as exist in countries next to us". "Besides, why did the project 'Let's Clean Up Serbia' engage 20 people who were not employed by the ministry, when at the ministry, there are 200 people who could also have done that job," wondered Mihajlovic. When it comes to the said fund, she explained that budget inspectors were called to go through its documentation, and that "those responsible bust be held responsible". Asked when she expected to see her "first concrete results" of her ministry, she said that an agreement signed recently with German RWE on the construction of TENT-A B3 was "a concrete result". "By the end of the year, we will create administrative conditions that will enable for the building of small power plants with only three or four permits, instead of 27. Investors will be able to receive all the permits at the ministry," Mihajlovic stated. Zorana Mihajlovic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Minister wants probes in power, gas companies

"When it comes to Srbijagas, we are asking for their business with too many suppliers and middlemen to be examined. We must know where the money went," said the minister.

According to Mihajlović - whose portfolio in the new government also includes environmental protection - the problems were present not only in the energy, but also in the environment sector, "where little was done, while a lot of money was spent".

The Environmental Protection Fund had at its disposal an annual budget of at least RSD 3.5 to 4.5 billion, Mihajlović continued, and noted that it had been set up three years ago.

However, the minister said she "saw no evidence of recycling plants, such as exist in countries next to us".

"Besides, why did the project 'Let's Clean Up Serbia' engage 20 people who were not employed by the ministry, when at the ministry, there are 200 people who could also have done that job," wondered Mihajlović.

When it comes to the said fund, she explained that budget inspectors were called to go through its documentation, and that "those responsible bust be held responsible".

Asked when she expected to see her "first concrete results" of her ministry, she said that an agreement signed recently with German RWE on the construction of TENT-A B3 was "a concrete result".

"By the end of the year, we will create administrative conditions that will enable for the building of small power plants with only three or four permits, instead of 27. Investors will be able to receive all the permits at the ministry," Mihajlović stated.