Beyond fossil fuels
October 3, 2017
Fossil fuels are fast losing their social license. It is becoming increasingly evident that countries’ continued reliance on dirty hydrocarbons escalates the climate crisis, worsens air pollution and enables war. Long touted as a ‘bridge fuel,’ fossil
Locals in Upper Nitra, Slovakia agree on the future of their region after coal phaseout
September 22, 2017
One of the positive outcomes of the debate about Europe’s Energy Union was an increased attention to the issue of Just Transition*. Even more promising is that the debate is moving from Brussels to the very regions that are facing an imminent coal phaseout. One of those regions is Horna Nitra /Upper Nitra in Slovakia.
Fossil fuels in the Balkans
August 20, 2017
After more than a decade of civil society campaigns, Western Balkan countries are finally ditching their dreams of building new coal power plants and starting to ramp up renewable energy. But the path to a sustainable energy transition is far from assu
Balkan governments unprepared for new EU pollution rules
August 17, 2017
New EU rules entering into force today, to limit pollution from power plants, will also apply in most Western Balkan countries. But the region’s governments are so far acting like they don’t exist.
CEE Bankwatch Network: Balkan Planned Coal Power to Breach EU Standard
June 15, 2017
Almost none of the new coal power plants planned in the Western Balkans will meet the new, stricter EU pollution standards, according to a new analysis by the CEE Bankwatch Network, released this week. Source: CEE Bankwatch Network: Balkan Planned Coal
Asian Development Bank projects in Mongolia
May 5, 2017
With a dominance of coal in its energy sector, the Mongolian government is planning more than six new coal power plants over the next decade, despite already severe air pollution and public protests against the government’s inaction. The Asian Developm
Air pollution in the Balkans – independent monitoring
October 18, 2016
With our own device to measure air pollution, Bankwatch aims to provide independent data on air quality for selected sites across the Balkans. Poor air quality and the related impacts on health need to be higher on the policy making agenda in Balkan countries.
Update on resettlements at Kolubara mine and other EPS operations
May 11, 2016
In October 2015 the independent Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development found that the bank breached its environmental and social policy with regards to safeguarding the rights of communities impacted by mining operations of the Serbian state energy company EPS.
Issues with Serbian electricity company EPS need to be addressed within new EBRD loan
February 1, 2016
As part of its new EUR 200 million loan to the Serbian electricity company EPS, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aims to assist with “identifying opportunities to improve environmental, safety, social, and labour governance and capacity, and on helping EPS to develop a more strategic approach to managing these issues”. As outlined in this briefing, so far the EBRD’s fifteen-year partnership with EPS has not brought visible improvements in company practices and it is high time for the bank to prove that its engagement can add value.
Pljevlja II lignite power plant, Montenegro
October 7, 2014
CANCELLED: For several years the Montenegrin authorities planned a second unit at the Pljevlja lignite-fired power plant in the north of Montenegro, near the borders with Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. An existing plant has been operating there since 1982. In 2019 the authorities finally admitted the second unit would not be built.
