Where we work

Bankwatch is a network of environmental and development organisations currently from 12 countries across central and eastern European. Monitoring the activities of international financial institutions, our work is not limited to our region. We work together with our partners also further east and south.

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Sostanj lignite thermal power plant unit 6, Slovenia

Slovenia plans to build a new 600 MW unit for the Šoštanj lignite power plant (TEŠ6) which would replace the power plant’s existing units 1-4 and possibly 5. Its promoters argue with increased efficiency, but in fact, this one lignite power plant alone will swallow up almost the country's entire carbon budget by 2050.

EBRD
EIB
Energy & climate
Nuclear power plant safety upgrades, Ukraine

Ukraine plans to extend the lifetimes of its fifteen nuclear reactors, most of which will soon pass their expiration date. EURATOM and the EBRD are considering financing a Safety Upgrade Programme that is a crucial stepping stone for the reactors’ prolonged use.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Coal-fired power plants in Poland

Faced with an outdated energy system, the Polish government is determined to invest in climate damaging coal rather than focusing on renewable energy. The European Investment Bank is on its way to inject public money into this carbon intensive future.

EIB
Energy & climate
Ombla hydropower plant, Croatia

An underground hydropower plant is planned to be built in a natural habitat of global significance. The project's assessments have been plagued by oddities and cannot be considered complete.

EBRD
Other harmful projects
Kumtor Gold Mine, Kyrgyzstan

The Kumtor open pit gold mine is located in a majestic surrounding in the Kyrgyzstan mountains. It receives continued support by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, despite several accidents in the past and ongoing environmental damages from the mining operations.

EBRD
World Bank Group
Social & economic impacts
Other harmful projects
Mining
The 'Second Backbone Corridor' - High voltage electricity transmission lines, Ukraine

In its drive for 'energy security', the EU is looking to its eastern neighbour for cheap energy. But using a series of high-voltage transmission lines to import dirty energy supplies like nuclear and coal power from Ukraine will not make the EU safer, and it will lock both into an unstable and environmentally unsound energy mix.

EBRD
EIB
Energy & climate
Kolubara lignite mine, Serbia

Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mine in Serbia is in line for loans from European public banks. Corruption allegations, pollution at local level, irregularities in resettlement of local populations and not to forget a climate damaging approach to energy investments should be reason enough to find alternatives to lignite mining.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Mining boom in Mongolia

With huge amounts of unexploited natural resources (gold, copper, coal and more) the Mongolian economy is estimated to grow massively in the years to come. But will it also benefit the people in Mongolia? Or will environmental damages and disruptions of traditional lifestyles prevail?

EBRD
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Other harmful projects
ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Kazakhstan

In 2007, ArcelorMittal (AM) received a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support further improvements of health and safety practices in its mining complex ArcelorMittal Temirtau (AMT).

ArcelorMittal’s success in securing yet another loan by a public finance institution contrasts starkly with the shortcomings of the previous AMT improvement project that was supported by the EBRD and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Bankwatch, the Center for Introduction of New Environmentally Safe Technologies in Kazakhstan and the coalition Global Action on ArcelorMittal (GAAM) have called for greater transparency and participation in project planning and implementation and for more scrutiny by the EBRD to ensure the effectiveness of activities financed by its loans.

EBRD
World Bank Group
Social & economic impacts
Other harmful projects
Mining
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine

ArcelorMittal's enormous steel mill in southern Ukraine received a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2006 that helped the company increase productivity and expand its market position but didn't do much to address the pollution caused by the mill.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Mining


 

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