According to Odaily Planet Daily, Paraguayan Senator Salyn Buzarquis severely criticized the Paraguayan National Electricity Agency (ANDE), saying that its senior officials accepted bribes and allowed illegal Bitcoin mines to operate privately. Buzarquis said that these unnamed officials received bribes of up to $500,000 per month and called on ANDE President Felix Sosa to resign or be questioned about the matter.
ANDE issued a statement denying these claims and stressing that the state-owned company has been compromised in its fight against energy theft. “It is characteristic of this institution to conduct a frontal fight against such punishable acts, especially mining farms that illegally carry out crypto mining activities,” the statement declared.
Earlier news, ANDE employees were accused of being directly involved in setting up illegal Bitcoin mines in Paraguay. ANDE Director Felix Sosa clarified that the agency's internal audit department is verifying and organizing investigations into the organization. All relevant information will be submitted to the National Prosecutor's Office for further investigation. ANDE has been fighting illegal Bitcoin mining connections since December last year and has cut off power to more than 70 mines that draw unmetered electricity directly from the grid.
