[Campaign update] New bills for green energy in Serbia
Blog entry | 16 April, 2013By investing in Serbian lignite, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development cements the rigid structure of the country’s electricity market. Investing in energy efficiency instead could help reduce energy bills and free up further renewables funding.
Read moreLetter to EBRD: Kosovo strategy procedural concerns
Publication | 15 April, 2013The EBRD draft strategy for Kosovo is currently under public consultation until April 18. While Bankwatch will also publish comments on the content of the strategy, this letter brings important procedural matters to the EBRD’s attention which, if not improved, will seriously impact the quality of the country strategy.
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Exposing the nuke-speak: responses to the EBRD’s justification for financing nuclear lifetime extensions
Blog entry | 29 March, 2013In an unprecedented effort to defend its support for Ukraine’s nuclear programme the EBRD publicly replies to some of our objections. Several colleagues sent us their (sometimes outraged) rebuttals, which we include here in our rejoinder to the bank’s arguments.
Read moreComments on draft EBRD country strategy for Mongolia (2013)
Publication | 29 March, 2013Bankwatch’s comments focus on the aspects of mining and economic diversification; modernising infrastructure; energy efficiency, renewables and climate change; environmental, social and gender implications of the bank’s activities.
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Guest post: Never again Sostanj
Blog entry | 20 March, 2013Disappointed by loan disbursements to one of the dirtiest coal projects in Europe, almost 100 organisations have called on two public lenders to not repeat the same mistakes, ever.
Read moreNever again Sostanj, NGOs warn European public banks after Slovenia debacle
Press release | 20 March, 2013After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network, and 96 other NGOs are today sending a letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again.
Read moreOpen letter to EIB & EBRD: Sostanj must never happen again
Publication | 20 March, 2013After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network and 96 other NGOs sent this letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again. The letter includes a list of reasons why Sostanj was undeserving of public loans and a set of measures that need to be taken by the banks immediately in order to avoid such mistakes from being repeated in the future.
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[Campaign update] Woes in Kosovo’s energy sector trigger demand for Minister’s removal
Blog entry | 18 March, 2013Amid increasing public outcry over electricity prices and the privatisation of the KEDS distribution company, KOSID, an industrious NGO coalition from Kosovo has called for the dismissal of Besim Beqaj, the country’s Minster for Economic Development.
Read moreThe Western Balkans: EBRD’s public money to finance coal plants that threaten EU’s long-term climate targets?
Publication | 18 March, 2013The Western Balkans countries are aspiring to become members of the European Union. At the same time, 6195 MW of new coal and lignite plants are planned to be built in the Western Balkans, which will still be operating by 2050 and threaten these countries’ ability to comply with EU long-term decarbonisation objectives. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is planning to support some of these power plants via its loans.
Read moreEBRD finances lifetime expansion of Ukrainian nukes, but gets defensive about it
Press release | 13 March, 2013Kiev – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved yesterday a 300 million euros loan for the so-called “Safety Upgrade Programme” of Ukraine. In reality, the beneficiary company, state-owned Energoatom, will use the money to prolong the lifetime of 12 old nuclear reactors.
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