Dubravka Đedović Handanović reappointed as Serbia’s minister of energy, mining

Minister of Energy and Mining of Serbia Dubravka Đedović Handanović is keeping her position under new prime minister–designate Miloš Vučević. He said he would reappoint Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujović as well, but also make her deputy prime minister.

Following the general election in December, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić has designated the head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Miloš Vučević as the next prime minister. Today he proposed the new cabinet, where Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović and Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujović would keep their positions and the latter would also become deputy prime minister.

Under previous Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Vučević served as deputy prime minister and minister of defence. He was the mayor of Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, from 2012 to 2022.

Đedović Handanović oversaw Serbia’s first renewable energy auctions and the legal transformation of EPS

Dubravka Đedović Handanović assumed the office of minister of energy and mining in October 2022. She oversaw the country’s first wind and solar power auctions and the legal transformation of state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) into a joint stock company.

Serbia is negotiating with Hyundai Engineering and UGT Renewables on a strategic partnership for the construction of a group of solar power plants of 1.2 GW in total peak capacity, with batteries. The consortium would hand them over to EPS.

The minister inaugurated the desulfurization system last week in TENT A, Serbia’s largest coal-fired power plant. She will speak at the opening of Belgrade Energy Forum on May 13. Balkan Green Energy News is organizing the two-day event in the country’s capital.

Đedović Handanović has 18 years of experience in the international banking sector.

Before becoming minister, she was a member of the Executive Board of NLB Komercijalna banka, responsible for corporate and investment banking.

Đedović Handanović was among top EIB officials

Đedović Handanović was the head of the Regional Office of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Western Balkans from 2016 to 2021. Until the start of her tenure in Belgrade, she was the manager for Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia at the headquarters of the European Union’s main lending institution in Luxembourg, and in charge of public-private partnership projects and project financing in countries including Ireland, France, the United Kingdom and Benelux.

Before starting her career in banking, Dubravka Đedović Handanović worked in the media and communications sector. She was awarded in 2001 by the United States National Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences for reporting on the Afghanistan war.

The minister graduated in banking and finance from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade and obtained her master’s degree in finance and management from SDA Bocconi University in Milan and the Anderson School of Management at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

Irena Vujović promoted to deputy prime minister of Serbia while keeping current post

Irena Vujović from SNS is looking at her third term as minister of environmental protection as well as a promotion to deputy prime minister. She took the current post in 2020. Before that, Vujović served as member of the National Assembly of Serbia, assistant mayor of Belgrade and the president of the Municipality of Savski venac in the central part of Belgrade.

The minister of environmental protection holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the Megatrend University.