The BIRN report revealed, among other findings, a significant increase in the number of employees across several companies, as well as more than 6.5 million euros distributed in donations and sponsorships.
On completion of its monitoring, BIRN Montenegro addressed DRI with its findings, suggesting that EPCG-Solar Gradnja be included in the 2025 audit plan.
In its annual report, the DRI said the management of EPCG-Solar gradnja hired 357 employees in 2024 without issuing public calls and increased employee salaries without consulting the government and the Ministry of Energy, which is a legal obligation.
The report says the energy company failed to meet its legal obligation to reduce the total salary fund by 10 per cent after recording a 2.7-million-euro loss in 2023. The DRI submitted its report on irregularities in the company to the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, parliament and the Ministry of Finance.
Over the seven-month monitoring period, BIRN Montenegro tracked the spending of five state-owned energy companies: the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, EPCG, the Montenegrin Electric Distribution System, CEDIS, the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System, CGES, EPCG- Solar gradnja and EPCG-Zeljezara Niksic.
These companies were selected for monitoring due to widespread public speculation that those leading them were using their funds for political purposes.