As a result of planned restructuring functions of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources will be downgraded with some of its agencies going under the subordination of other ministries.

PM Nika Gilauri said at a government session on February 8, that issues related with natural resources and licensing would be transferred under the subordination of the Ministry of Energy, which would be renamed to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

He also said that the Agency of Protected Areas would be transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will also incorporate function of licensing from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, PM Gilauri said.

“Many details are still remaining and we continue working on them,” he said.

One of the options, he said, was to downgrade Ministry of Environment into the State Ministry.

The PM said that a relevant draft law would be presented to the Parliament in coming days.

After criticizing the Ministry of Environment, in particular its forestry department for “systemic corruption”, President Saakashvili instructed the government in December to reorganize the entire ministry. Saakashvili, however, also said at the time that he was grateful to Minister of Environment, Goga Khachidze, for “doing a good job.”