Following the change in government, Slovenian state-owned energy companies GEN energija and its subsidiary GEN-I got new chief executive officers: Andrej Vizjak and Jure Soklič, respectively. Vizjak vowed to untangle the complex cross-ownership loops between the two firms. He added that the projects for the Krško 2 nuclear power plant and Mokrice hydropower plant are continuing.
The Supervisory Board of GEN energija dismissed Nada Drobne Popović and replaced her with Andrej Vizjak as CEO for a four-year term. The change follows the return of Janez Janša to power. In June, he became the prime minister of Slovenia for the fourth time.
Andrej Vizjak was minister in Janša’s cabinets three times. He recently became the head of the Supervisory Board of Borzen, Slovenia’s public electricity market operator. The new CEO was earlier in charge of strategic development in hydropower plant operator Hidroelektrarne na spodnji Savi (HESS), part of GEN Group, under a 51% ownership stake. He also led the firm’s subsidiary Partner.
Vizjak prioritizes power production stability
GEN energija said that Vizjak, presenting his program, said he would ensure a safe and stable production of electricity, especially in nuclear power plant Krško, while continuing the development of the projects of Krško 2 and the Mokrice hydropower plant and other planned generation facilities.
Bruno Glaser stayed on as business director.
GEN energija holds the Slovenian half of the Krško nuclear power plant (NEK or, in Slovenian, JEK), and owns hydropower plant operators Savske elektrarne Ljubljana (SEL) and HESS, and the Brestanica gas-fired power plant.
In addition, the new CEO vowed to work on untangling the relationship with GEN-I. It is a subsidiary of GEN energija, but involving a so-called circular capital link – complex cross-ownership loops.
Jure Soklič reportedly takes helm of GEN-I
As quoted by the media, Vizjak revealed that GEN-I’s CEO Maks Helbl is already out. Entrepreneur Jure Soklič is said to have been appointed as his successor. According to news reports, he is affiliated with New Slovenia – Christian Democrats (NSi), led by Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec.
Soklič has pioneered blockchain technology in Slovenia and prominent faces of the early Slovenian blockchain wave. Now, in addition to cryptocurrencies, he is also involved in luxury yacht rentals.
