Certain extreme situations can “force” Elektroprivreda (EPCG) to resort to an unpopular measure – raising the price of electricity, and the Board of Directors will decide on this by the end of the year, announced the President of the EPCG Board of Directors, Milutin Đukanović.
Đukanović said that the Board of Directors of EPCG, headed by him, behaved extremely socially-responsibly regarding the increase in electricity prices for citizens and the economy, despite inflation.
“Therefore, we did not allow the budgets of our consumers or the economy to be additionally burdened during the crisis years of 2021 and 2022. Previous years have shown that many factors affect wholesale electricity markets and certain extreme situations can “force” EPCG to resort to this unpopular measure, here I am primarily referring to a situation in which there would be a deficit of domestic production, in which case they would have to we import electricity at extremely high prices. The board of directors will give its opinion on this decision by the end of the year”, stated Đukanović.
Đukanović reminded that at the end of June, EPCG made a profit of EUR 106.11 million, which, he said, was the best result in the history of business.
“All preliminary data as well as forecasts until the end of the current year indicate that this will be one of the better, if not the best, year when it comes to EPCG’s operations,” said Đukanović.
In the last two years, EPCG has increased the number of workers by 30 percent, and the average salary by almost EUR 200, according to an earlier analysis by the Ministry of Capital Investments, published by the Government.
Đukanović said that the increase in the number of employees was more than necessary.
“After taking over EPCG, we faced a lack of competent staff from all areas of business. DPS absolutely destroyed the cult of work. We have hired new people and I am sure that we will continue in that spirit, since we have expanded the product portfolio, we are firmly focused on the company’s development strategy, which, of course, is best shown by the results”, stated Đukanović.
In February, EPCG’s daughter company Željezara Nikšić started operations, which needs a budget and payment of EUR 6.5 million from EPCG to start steel production.
Đukanović said that they are still waiting for the opinion of the Agency for the Protection of Competition, which should assess whether or not it is state aid.
