New life for old nukes in Ukraine means more risk for people and planet
Press release | 3 October, 2016A decision today by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator to extend the operations of another Soviet-era reactor has been made in spite of the country’s failure to implement fully the obligations it took on when receiving EU funding for its ageing nuclear fleet.
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For European development bank democracy is an afterthought
Blog entry | 19 September, 2016Almost one in four euros lent by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2015 went to authoriatrian countries. The bank has clearly decided to ignore its own mandate, or else it would have to considerably shrink its business.
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Ukraine’s nuclear energy fixation puts its European financiers to a test
Blog entry | 5 September, 2016In a meeting today, the Espoo Convention’s Implementation Committee will again discuss Ukraine’s compliance with the Convention’s rules. A look back at the last months does not suggest a positive outcome.
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Dirty Precious Metals: Dumping European Toxic Waste in Tsumeb, Namibia
Publication | 10 August, 2016Based on a visit to Namibia this report assesses the environmental and social standards at the Tsumeb smelter, acquired by Canadian Dundee Precious Metals in 2010. The smelter specialises in working with some of the dirtiest copper concentrates half of
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‘We have no other option’ – Albanian communities face unjust resettlement process for Trans-Adriatic Pipeline
Blog entry | 4 August, 2016What is a perceived source of security for some can cause instability for others’ lives.
Read more‘We have no other option’ – Preparation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline in Albania
Publication | 4 August, 2016The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the most western part of the Southern Gas Corridor, a pipeline project to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe is promoted by the European Commission as a strategic asset for Europe’s energy security. A July visit to over 30 Albanian villages revealed the high level of dissatisfaction and confusion for people impacted by the construction of TAP.
Read moreUkraine’s nuclear programme and the Espoo Convention – letter to the Convention’s Implementation Committee
Publication | 1 August, 2016Espoo bodies sent several specific recommendations concerning its non-compliance with the Espoo Convention to Ukraine. Nonetheless Ukraine seems to be either ignoring those or taking insufficient steps towards compliance. Therefore Bankwatch summarises the state-of-play in this letter and asks the Implementation Committee to consider a number of steps to ensure the Convention’s requirements are properly met by Ukraine.
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A ray of light for communities in Serbia’s coal heartland
Blog entry | 22 July, 2016For more than 50 years, the lignite mines in Serbia’s Kolubara basin have been expanding, effectively engulfing the few small communities living between them. For local residents, whose homes have quite literally been teetering on the brink of the mines, life has become unbearable. But a recent court ruling might be paving the way to a long overdue reprieve for residents who have been promised to be relocated.
Read moreNew report: institutionalised corruption in Romania’s third largest company
Press release | 12 July, 2016Counter Balance and its partner Bankwatch have launched a new report exploring corruption cases in Romania’s third largest company. The Oltenia Energy Complex (OEC) is a key player in the energy sector in Romania and today operates ten lignite mines and four power plants. Supposed recipient of a EUR 200 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), OEC stands out for a long list of corruption scandals collected in the last decade.
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New mudflow hits Georgian village as rainy season reveals poor assessment of hydropower plans
Blog entry | 5 July, 2016As rains cause mudflows in Georgia’s mountains, locals from different regions unite to protest hydropower developments in geologically unstable areas.
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