Djedovic: No one is talking about shutting down power plants, we want to produce more electricity

The key is to have companies that can implement that transition - said Djedovic

We want to bring responsibility back to companies, that there are management structures that will be responsible, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic told Pink TV.

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The minister's message for citizens of Serbia that there is no privatization, adding that they has been manipulation and deception during the past few days.

"The status deals with management, we have witnessed that in the energy crisis it is extremely important to have strong energy companies," said Djedovic.

Djedovic said that another problem is the implementation of investments, adding that this must change, how to better manage those things.

"We want to bring responsibility back to companies, that there are management structures that will be responsible. Professional people must be brought in who will fight for our companies to be the stability of our economy," said Djedovic.

According to her, no one is talking about shutting down power plants, she added that they want to produce more electricity, so that if we have surpluses we can also export.

"The change in legal form and the decision about it was made in 2014 and must now be implemented. On the day when Elektroprivreda (electrical corporation) becomes a joint-stock company, there will be no limit for employees and wages," said Djedovic.

Djedovic said that the state has talked and will continue to talk with trade union representatives of all energy companies.

"If everything works as it should, why is anyone protesting, unions, workers' representatives are not regulated by the statute, but by other documents," said Djedovic.

She stressed that the goal is to bring about changes for the better, for the sake of the citizens of Serbia, who pay for the work of all managers and executives in our energy companies.

"Changing the legal form is one of the ways to improve management, we have to go step by step. The supervisory board should receive greater powers, to decide on the management structure, to review production, investments. We have to work on investments, because we are aware that we have to invest over 30 billion euros in order to recover the system," said Djedovic.

When it comes to electricity and gas price increases, she said that citizens cannot be asked to pay higher prices without changing anything in those companies.

"We need these painful changes, although we will try to keep the prices as low as possible, we have to bring about certain changes.

I would like to thank the citizens who were saving electricity," said Djedovic.

She said that the Paris Climate Agreement is something we have committed to, and it refers to reduction of those gases that have a bad effect on the environment.

"We must change and switch to cleaner energy sources. We cannot fulfill it overnight, but we have time ahead of us, we will plan adequately," said Djedovic.

According to her, work will continue on this and auctions will be launched where the state will stimulate private investments in green energy.

"That's a process that takes a long time and cannot be completed overnight. The key is to have companies that can implement that transition," said Djedovic.

(Telegraf Biznis)