BRATISLAVA, January 13, (WEBNOVINY) – Economy Minister Juraj Miskov has asked the executive committee of the government privatization agency the National Property Fund (FNM) to appoint member of the Board of Directors of the state-run electricity transmission system operator Slovenska Elektrizacna Prenosova Sustava (SEPS) Michal Pokorny as BoD deputy chairman instead of Igor Grosaft (SDKU-DS nominee) who asked the minister earlier on Friday to release him from the post. Nominees and personal exchanges have to be decided by the FNM’s executive committee based on the request of the economy department.
Grosaft explained that the reason behind his resignation from the position of the deputy chairman of SEPS Board of Directors is the fact he does not want the pre-election situation in Slovakia to negatively reflect on SEPS. Miskov respects Igor Grosaft’s decision. “With regard to the current situation I appreciate Mr. Grosaft’s decision,” Minister Miskov said. In this connection he at the same time asked for releasing the dismissed FNM head Anna Bubenikova from the post of member of the SEPS Supervision Board.
Grosaft and Bubenikova feature in the case of the alleged intelligence service file code-named Gorila that documents alleged influence on Slovak politics by the Penta financial group. The extensive material released on the Internet before Christmas describes appointments of political nominees in state-run companies, kickbacks for privatization and the web of relations between politicians, tycoons and security services in the period 2005-2006.
Slovenska Elektrizacna Prenosova Sustava operates the transmission grid and distributes electricity through its 400-kV and 220-kV power lines. It also deals with imports, exports and transit of electricity and its exact measurement. The National Property Fund controls a 100-percent stake in SEPS, while the Economy Ministry exercises shareholder rights on its behalf.
SITA