Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Response letter to EBRD specifying environmental and legal shortcomings related to the Moscow – St.Petersburg highway

Letter to Energy Community of South East Europe regarding Porto Romano power plant

Concerns mount over cyanide rush in Bulgarian mining projects, European Commission urged to intervene

Two Bankwatch groups and the members of the Cyanide Free Bulgaria coalition outlined today at a press conference in Sofia the ongoing problematic issues hanging over the proposed introduction of controversial cyanide leaching at the Chelopech mining project and with the Bulgarian government’s handling of the environmental procedures for wider use of cyanide in mining projects across the country.

Complaint to the European Commission regarding Chelopech Cyanide Gold Project

The Center for Environmental Information and Education has lodged this formal complaint related to infringements of EU law associated with the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permitting process for the cyanide installation at phase 2 of the Chelopech project, being promoted by Canadian mining company Dundee Precious Metals that is seeking project finance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Between a rock and a hard place. How local communities pay the cost of EBRD-financed gold mining projects.

As the EBRD prepares to develop a new sectoral policy on mining [Update Jan 2012: the update has been postponed for the last two years], this collection of case studies looks at the impacts on communities of the gold mining projects the bank has financed thus far.

Letter to EIB regarding the bank’s consideration to finance the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway PPP

Bankwatch is concerned about the EIB and EBRD’s plans to finance the Moscow – St Petersburg motorway, which threatens the Khimki Forest outside of Moscow. Local people are vigorously campaigning to ensure that the motorway does not destroy their local green area. Here, we ask for some information regarding the EIB’s participation in the project.

Briefing: Introduction of cyanide leaching of gold in Bulgaria

The briefing outlines plans to introduce the highly toxic chemical cyanide into the leaching of gold in Bulgaria. It describes the fierce public opposition to it and the shortcomings in the EIA process for the Chelopech, Kurdjali and Krumovgrad projects. It also points to the risks for the environment and human health, and to the questionable applicability of the technique for Bulgaria.

Green Action comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Kastijun Regional Waste Management Centre, Croatia

Violations at EBRD power lines project spark clashes between police and villagers in Ukraine

A project financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the Odessa region of Ukraine has this week been the scene of clashes between 300 police officers and villagers resisting the routing of high voltage power lines through their village. The EUR 25.8 million Odessa High Voltage Grid Upgrade project is being implemented by Ukraine’s national electricity company Ukrenergo in violation of agreements with the EBRD, the international public development bank and backer of the project.

Letter to EBRD urging the bank to control NPC Ukrenergo’s high voltage grid project near Odessa, Ukraine