Ljubljana - Blaž Košorok has been relieved of his duties as a state secretary at the Infrastructure Ministry with media reports tipping him as a serious contender to become CEO of GEN Energija, one of two major energy groups in the country.

A press release issued by the Government Communication Office said the government dismissed Košorok at his own request.

Košorok served as CEO of HSE, the state-owned holding running a series of power plants, from November 2012 to July 2017, before which he headed the Ljubljana city's CHP plant Te-Tol.

Media reports say he is now tipped to take over at GEN Energija, the second energy pillar after HSE, which also includes the Krško nuclear power plant.

The long-serving CEO of GEN Energija, Martin Novšak, was dismissed just over a month ago, with CFO Gordana Radanovič named as his interim replacement.

The news portal Necenzurirano had reported already back then that Košorok was destined for the post and that he enjoyed PM Janez Janša's support.

Novšak's dismissal caused upset in Krško with the city council calling it political staffing and interference driven by the government's desire to bring down the Posavje energy group and move it to Ljubljana.