Energy Minister Eli Cohen blocks appointment of Noga CEO

Minister of Energy Eli Cohen opposes the appointment of Gilad Bar-Adon as CEO of Noga. Cohen sent a letter today to the Director of the Government Companies Authority, Roi Kahlon, in which he expressed his opposition to the appointment.

Bar-Adon, former CEO of Moriah, the Jerusalem Development Company, was selected by the search committee appointed by the board of directors of Noga, which manages the national electricity system. The appointment requires the approval of Minister Dudi Amsalem and Minister of Energy Eli Cohen. Cohen's opposition will effectively torpedo the appointment.

In the letter, Cohen claims that Bar-Adon has no background in the energy sector or the electricity sector:

«Noga is critical to the stability of the electricity market, and it is important that the CEO of Noga has a background and expertise in the energy sector in general and the electricity market in particular. The chosen candidate does not have such experience and knowledge. He may have many virtues and I have no intention of casting aspersions on him, but in my understanding, expertise in the electricity sector, which he lacks, is critical for the position of CEO of the company.»

Cohen asks the Authority to appoint an external and independent examiner to review the appointment process of Bar-Adon and to forward the conclusions to him as soon as possible.