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
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 2016, nearly 30 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, heavily backed by the US government and World Bank, plans to build a new 500 MW lignite plant, Kosova e Re or New Kosovo.
Plomin coal power plant, Croatia
Croatian plans to more than double the capacity of the Plomin coal power plant would have resulted in increased carbon-emissions for several decades. The project’s profitability was questionable and the plans were facing local opposition and conflicting regional legislation.
Latest news
EBRD, still fixated on gas despite IPCC warnings
Blog entry | 15 October, 2018In its new draft strategy for the energy sector, meant to guide the bank’s lending between 2019-2023, the EBRD gives too much prominence to gas as a so-called “bridging fuel” on the way to decarbonisation – much more prominence than is given to energy savings and even to sustainable renewables.
Read moreRomania ‘gave illegal permits’ to own energy firm
Bankwatch in the media | 12 October, 2018The Oltenia Energy Complex took over people’s land, mined lignite and increased coal production despite state climate action pledges. Source: Romania ‘gave illegal permits’ to own energy firm
Read moreEuropean development money ‘helps sustain fossil fuel firms’
Bankwatch in the media | 9 October, 2018Five of Europe’s biggest climate offenders continue to enjoy billions of euros in public funds, according to a Bankwatch report Source: European development money ‘helps sustain fossil fuel firms’
Read moreRelated publications
EBRD renewable investments finally matched its fossil fuel investments in 2017 – So why is the bank’s draft Energy Strategy still fixated with gas?
Briefing | 15 October, 2018 | Download PDFThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has recently issued a new draft Energy Strategy for public consultation that will define its activities in the energy sector from 2019-2023. It clearly commits to halt all direct financing for coal p …
65 groups from 28 Countries tell EBRD and EIB to stop financing fossil fuels
Advocacy letter | 28 September, 2018 | Download PDFThe letter is written on the need to ensure the ongoing energy reviews at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.
European public funding for fossil fuel-dependent companies
Study | 27 September, 2018 | Download PDFCEE Bankwatch Network follows closely the EBRD’s ‘sister institutions’ and actively advocates for improvement of their lending policies. As the European Investment Bank (EIB) is expected to review its 2013 ‘Screening and Assessment Criteria for Energy …
