Vigantas Galkauskas, who has been acting as INPP CEO since February 6, told BNS that the Energy Ministry had been fully informed about the finances of the company at the end of January hence it had to be aware about the money deposited in Ūkio Bankas.
Ignalina NPP set up a special commission and launched internal audit so as to find out during March what infringements had been made by former management while investing the facility’s money, acting CEO said.
“The whole thing is unpleasant, such things cannot be justified. The amount we lost during the year Snoras and Ūkio Bankas went bankrupt is bigger than the amount we lost in 30 years. We have been defeated with the score of 0-2,” Galkauskas told BNS.
The nuclear facility lost 104 million litas in both collapsed banks.
“Late in January, we submitted a financial report, which provided full information, including the fact that a certain amount was invested in Ūkio Bankas, to the ministry, and the ministry knew everything. We wanted to withdraw the deposit right before the closure of Ūkio Bankas, when we heard the rumors, but we were short on time – the bank was closed the following day. We had to obtain the ministry’s consent for the withdrawal of the deposit since we would have lost a big amount in interest if we had terminated the agreement,” Galkauskas told BNS.
Responsibility for improper investments rested with former Ignalina NPP management, which had made “numerous” infringements, including the law on public procurement and failure to comply with the Finance Ministry’ recommendations, he said.
Galkauskas assured that the loss of 15 million litas deposited in Ūkio Bankas had not affected the company’s activities since this was the money saved for a rainy day. The company kept money in seven more banks, he added.
Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovič stated on Wednesday that the Ignalina's 15 million litas deposit at the collapsed Ūkio Bankas was “an example of incompetence”. The ministry is currently trying to find out whether the company could have breached the investment rules approved by its management board.
Žilvinas Jurkšus was dismissed as CEO of Ignalina NPP on February 5.
