• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bankwatch

  • About us
    • Our vision
    • Who we are
    • Donors & finances
    • Get involved
  • What we do
    • Campaign areas
      • Beyond fossil fuels
      • Rights, democracy and development
      • Finance and biodiversity
      • Funding the energy transformation
      • Cities for People
    • Institutions we monitor
      • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
      • European Investment Bank
      • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
      • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
      • EU funds
    • Our projects
    • Success stories
  • Publications
  • News
    • Blog posts
    • Press releases
    • Stories
    • Podcast
    • Us in the media
    • Videos
Home > Bankwatch in the media > Report indicates hundreds of hydro projects under construction in southeast Europe

Report indicates hundreds of hydro projects under construction in southeast Europe

6 January 2016, HydroWorld

In southeast Europe, there are 1,355 greenfield hydropower plants either being planned or having entered operation since 2005, according to a recently released report.

Of these, 200 are in operation and 113 are under construction. The report indicates 823 projects are actively planned and another 171 are regarded as potential.

For purposes of this report — entitled Financing for Hydropower in Protected Areas in Southeast Europe — countries in southeast Europe include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece (northern), Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

A total of more than 1,800 projects were screened, with 1,355 identified as greenfield. The report provides country profiles. Albania contains 583 of the screened hydropower projects, Bosnia and Herzegovina 278, Bulgaria 187, Croatia 157, northern Greece six, Kosovo 107, Macedonia 206, Montenegro 143, Serbia 88, and Slovenia 102.

Potential total generating capacity of the plants was not disclosed, although many of them are less than 10 MW.

In this region, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has supported at least 51 greenfield plants with about €240 million. Other banks involved include the European Investment Bank (five plants, about €437 million and 19 small and mini plants, about €22 million), and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation(22 plants, monetary value not disclosed).

Concerns outlined in the report include “rampant corruption and inadequate nature protection” and the fact that almost half of the planned projects are in protected areas.

The report was prepared by CEE Bankwatch Network as part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign. It contains recommendations to multilateral development banks; commercial banks, export credit agencies and national development banks; national governments of countries in the region; the European Commission; the European Commission and energy community; and non-governmental organizations.

Institution: EBRD | EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: Western Balkans | hydropower

Footer

CEE Bankwatch Network gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.

The content of this website is the sole responsibility of CEE Bankwatch Network and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Unless otherwise noted, the content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 License

Your personal data collected on the website is governed by the present Privacy Policy.

Get in touch with us

  • Bluesky
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • YouTube