Filipović: Barbarić remains at HEP and will not take severance pay

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Davor Filipović stated that, according to his information, the current CEO of HEP, Frane Barbarić, will remain at HEP and will not take severance pay.

– Barbarić has the right to a position at HEP in accordance with his qualifications – said Filipović.

When asked whether Barbarić’s position in HDZ will be considered, he replied that he has not yet had discussions with colleagues on that matter.

It has been reported that consultations are underway regarding a new leader for HEP, and that after these consultations, it will be presented who will lead HEP in the upcoming period.

It has been reported that the main Assembly of HEP was held this morning, where he confirmed the members of the Supervisory Board, who will meet in the coming days.

Gas for a cent affair

When asked if the ‘gas for a cent’ affair has been resolved for him, he stated that he spoke in detail and exhaustively about that situation in July of last year during a session of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, and that he has nothing more to add on that topic.

Regarding the possible recapitalization of HEP or compensation for damages incurred due to different prices – market prices and those at which HEP had to sell energy, he emphasized that the Government firmly stands by HEP.

– We have found a modality for how we will compensate HEP for what we need to compensate, so that ultimately our citizens have this electricity price which I said is the second lowest in the EU – said the minister, adding that a certain difference will be compensated to HEP monthly.

On Monday, the Government proposed to the Supervisory Board of HEP to revoke the duties or accept the resignation of the CEO of HEP, Frane Barbarić.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated on Sunday that new circumstances have arisen regarding the CEO of HEP, Frane Barbarić, so there are no longer prerequisites for him to remain in that position.

Namely, the Split Municipal State Attorney’s Office has filed an indictment against Barbarić for illegal construction of a villa on Hvar, which he announced he would demolish at his own expense.

He is accused of being aware that this is a protected coastal area of special interest for the Republic of Croatia, and that he did not previously obtain a valid building permit.

The opposition has been demanding the removal of the CEO of HEP, Frane Barbarić, for months, primarily due to the ‘gas for a cent’ affair.

The gas affair regarding the sale of gas below cost, which resulted in HEP incurring multi-million losses, was revealed this summer, after which the parliamentary opposition questioned Minister of Economy Davor Filipović and the leaders of HEP, Plinacro, HROTE, and HERA for hours, trying to get answers on who is responsible for the shortcomings in the sale of surplus gas.

Prime Minister Plenković has consistently rejected opposition demands, with the message that the decision on the gas affair will be made when the Government decides.