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 lignite mine, Serbia
Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mine in Serbia will receive 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.
Sostanj lignite thermal power plant unit 6, Slovenia
Slovenia has built a new 600 MW unit at the Šoštanj lignite power plant (TEŠ6) which has turned out to be a financial disaster, as well as locking the country into a carbon-intensive future with tens of millions of annual losses for the next four decades.
Latest news
Radio silence on gas allegations: European Commission breaks another deadline to respond to Bankwatch’s complaint
Blog entry | 21 October, 2021The European Commission’s Directorate General for Energy is dragging its feet in answering allegations on its role in the selection of priority gas pipelines in the Western Balkans and Caucasus region. The delays threaten to diminish the chances of the Ombudsman’s findings being taken into account while developing new EU energy rules.
Read moreEU complicity in colossal, lawless air pollution from Balkan coal plants must prompt swift action – new report
Press release | 7 September, 2021Around 19,000 people are estimated to have died over the past three years as a result of air pollution from Western Balkan coal-fired power plants, according to a report released today by CEE Bankwatch Network and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Read moreRomania, Romania may still have 2,100 MW in coal capacity by 2030
Bankwatch in the media | 15 August, 2021According to the latest Bankwatch report, in 2020, the installed coal capacity in the Romanian energy system stood at 4,590 MW in eight …
Read moreRelated publications
Public money vs. pristine rivers
Study | 21 October, 2021 | Download PDFAs the EIB revises its Environmental and Social Standards, this report presents eight hydropower schemes in central and eastern Europe either financed or under consideration by the Bank. The projects – some financed directly and others via intermediari
Just transition in Poland – an overview of territorial just transition plans from six coal regions
Study | 2 September, 2021 | Download PDFPoland is one of the countries in central and eastern Europe that plans to use European funds to finance just transition in their coal regions. In order to receive the funds, these regions will need to prepare Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs).
Coal in Romania – a review of coal assets and their impact on the environment
Study | 16 August, 2021 | Download PDFThis report documents the power plants and coal mines in Romania in order to understand their negative impact on the environment, economy and public health and support a more rapid coal phase-out. The analysis was performed based on information collect
