The economic viability of coal is ever decreasing. Without public financial support many coal investments are doomed to fail. Yet several institutions are still willing to finance an energy source that wrecks our climate, damages our health and wastes our money.
To help bring about a world beyond coal, we investigate and promote a socially responsible transition while exposing the economic, legal, social and environmental risks of coal power.
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We provide updates in English from the Balkans and other coal regions.
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Just transition
No one should be left behind when we reconstruct our world into one driven by clean energy. Working on just transition brings all actors who believe in fair regional redevelopment to the same table: unions, industry, public administration, governments, civil society and others sharing this goal.
Coal projects
Kolubara B lignite-fired power plant, Serbia
The Kolubara B thermal power plant site is situated near Kalenic village, 60 km south-west of Belgrade, at the northern side of the Tamnava Open Cast Mine. The decision to build the 2 x 350 MW plant was taken in 1983 and construction started in 1988. Construction progressed slowly until 1992, when work was suspended due to sanctions against Serbia. At this stage, about 40 per cent of the facility had already been constructed, partly with the assistance of a World Bank loan.
Kostolac B3 lignite power plant, Serbia
Serbia’s state-owned utility Elektroprivreda Srbije is planning a new 350 MW lignite plant at Kostolac in the country’s north-east. In spite of high level support and Chinese financing, the project is plagued by concerns over pollution, State aid and legal challenges.
Kosova e Re lignite power plant, Kosovo
Kosovo currently wastes much of the electricity it produces in its two highly polluting lignite plants: In 2018, nearly 28 percent was lost from the distribution system through technical losses and non-payment (around half each), and much more is wasted through lack of energy efficiency measures. Yet the Kosovo government plans to build a new 500 MW lignite plant (around 450 MW net), Kosova e Re or New Kosovo.
Latest news
Victory in Parliament: a green agenda placed at the heart of Europe’s recovery
Blog entry | 20 October, 2020The Environment Committee paves the way for a green and sustainable recovery by applying stricter criteria for all new investments in fossil fuels.
Read moreUkraine’s dangerous air pollution problem in desperate need of solutions
Blog entry | 19 October, 2020Ukraine’s air pollution problem is not receiving the attention it deserves, neither at the national nor at international levels. The authorities are dragging their feet on both monitoring air quality and emissions reductions measures, and the international community allows continuous delays and deadline extensions for Ukraine’s major polluters, which impact the air quality throughout Europe.
Read moreEastern Europe climate plans struggle to keep pace with EU’s green ambitions
Press release | 15 October, 2020Brussels – An in-depth assessment published yesterday [1] by the European Commission of the 27 EU states’ National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) highlights the growing gap between what eastern members’ plan and the ambitious targets set in the European Green Deal.
Read moreRelated publications
Chinese-built coal projects in Europe
Briefing | 14 September, 2020 | Download PDFA real and immediate threat to the EU’s decarbonisation efforts
TERRITORIAL JUST TRANSITION PLAN CHECKLIST
Briefing | 23 July, 2020 | Download PDFHow to make TJTPs climate and people driven
How to hit the ground running on just transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine
Advocacy letter | 15 July, 2020 | Download PDFRecommendations for the Secretariat of the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine
