Institution’s Doors Open, Energy Ministry Says over Democracy Institute Report

The newly-formed Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Raw Materials has already faced warnings about corruption risks.

According to the Democracy Institute, which has rung the alarm, the importance of energy and state natural resources, as well as major financial benefits for concessioners in those areas, make such ministries risk-prone, even in countries with well-developed anti-corruption policies.

Considering the money in the sphere, the Institute has called on Parliament to pay special attention to three potential sources of corruption related to the Ministry’s work, that is, increased foreign and domestic lobbying, conflict of interest, and weak human and material resources within the Ministry.

The Sanja Bozinovska-headed Ministry has said it welcomes all initiatives bringing greater accountability and transparency with regards to the field of energy, adding that the institution’s doors are open when it comes to its activities being monitored.