The EBRD’s climate contradiction: Syrdarya fossil-gas plant locks Uzbekistan into Russian energy dependence
Publication | 29 May, 2025The USD 200 million investment in the 1,500-megawatt combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan exposes significant contradictions between the EBRD’s stated commitments and its actual financing decisions.
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Concerns raised over new coal mining project in light of North Macedonia’s decarbonisation goals
Blog entry | 27 May, 2025CEE Bankwatch Network and Eko-svest have recently raised serious concerns regarding a proposed coal mining project in North Macedonia. The plan to open a new lignite mine in the Pelagonija region comes as a surprise, as the region is already affected by three other operating mines and the project contradicts the country’s coal phase-out commitments.
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Strengthening Ukraine’s wind projects: Insights from the Galnaftogaz experience
Publication | 27 May, 2025Despite critical procedural and technical issues, the Galnaftogaz wind project in Ukraine, backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is underway.
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Rethinking urban mobility: Why green vehicles are no fix for broken transport systems
Publication | 26 May, 2025The EBRD’s new Infrastructure Sector Strategy represents a significant step towards sustainable urban transport investments. However, it remains to be seen whether the implementation of the strategy will strike the much-needed balance between infrastructure investments and policy actions.
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GET greener: Strengthening the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition approach
Publication | 26 May, 2025The EBRD’s review of its GET approach should help to build an increased consensus on what investments can be considered ‘green’. This issue paper presents the key points from our extensive comments submitted to the EBRD in early April 2025.
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District heating projects financed by the EBRD in Ukraine
Publication | 14 May, 2025This briefing examines EBRD-financed district heating projects in Western Ukraine, particularly in Ternopil and Lutsk.
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Beyond mainstreaming: Advancing gender impact in the EBRD’s new Gender and Inclusion Strategy
Publication | 14 May, 2025This issue paper presents three case studies from which the Bank could learn while revising its gender and inclusion strategy.
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Black wool over the EBRD’s eyes
Blog entry | 13 May, 2025Based on the North Macedonian government and state-owned energy utility AD ESM’s supposed commitment to a green energy transformation and just transition, the EBRD is supporting ESM with liquidity loans and technical assistance. However, in a not unexpected turn of events, the company is moving forward with the opening of a new lignite mine.
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Why the EBRD must end support for primary forest biomass in the Western Balkans
Publication | 7 May, 2025This issue paper presents case studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina that highlight how EBRD-backed large-scale biomass projects have faced significant challenges related to sustainability, affordability, and fuel supply.
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Karaganda, Kazakhstan: Why are public concerns about a risky wastewater project being ignored?
Blog entry | 24 April, 2025Residents of Karaganda, a major industrial city in central Kazakhstan, originally welcomed plans to modernise the larger of its two wastewater treatment plants with the help of a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). However, the design of the project – revealed during public hearings – has prompted significant concerns among both citizens and experts. Over the past year, a local civil society organisation has been advocating for a review of the design, highlighting technical flaws and violations of stakeholder engagement obligations.
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