Anti-coal campaign in Kosovo puts focus on health
Blog entry | 4 February, 2013A campaign against a new lignite power plant in Kosovo uses World Bank figures to highlight the health damage resulting from pollution.
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Kolubara “mired in crime and corruption”
Blog entry | 30 January, 2013Those were the words of Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović, speaking last week in a press conference during which she announced that a thorough investigation is ongoing into corrupt practices by the management of the Kolubara mining complex.
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Good news: EBRD drops controversial Monsanto project
Blog entry | 28 January, 2013A potential cooperation between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the agro-corporation Monsanto has thankfully not come to fruition. The case highlights the difficulties for a large development bank to reach farmers on the ground.
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Off on the wrong foot in Kosovo? A lignite power plant and the EBRD
Blog entry | 25 January, 2013Notwithstanding the dominance of lignite in Kosovo’s energy mix, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development may get involved with yet another lignite project in the Western Balkans.
Read moreComments on EBRD policy and forthcoming energy strategy (Urgewalt/Klimaallianz, DE)
Publication | 16 January, 2013In their comments, the German NGO urgewald and the environmental coalition Klimaallianz focus on the EBRD’s support for fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Their recommendations call for a phase out of loans to fossil fuels, a more stringent approach to energy efficiency and a stronger focus on renewables for domestic needs.
Read moreComments on the EBRD’s 2006 Energy Operations Policy and recommendations for the forthcoming Energy Strategy
Publication | 15 January, 2013As the first step in its review of its Energy Operations Policy, the EBRD asked for input on its current policy before moving on to write the new sectoral strategy. In our comments, Bankwatch highlighted the current policy’s lack of restrictions on climate-damaging projects including coal power plants and the need for the bank to adopt strict sustainability criteria in order to ensure that it supports only truly sustainable renewable energy.
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The worst company of the year – Vote for Alstom in the People’s Public Eye Awards 2013
Blog entry | 8 January, 2013Alstom, the constructor for the Sostanj lignite power plant might just be the worst company of the year. You can vote for Alstom in the Public Eye Awards until January 23.
Read moreALSTOM nominated for “Prestigious” Public Eye Awards
Press release | 7 January, 2013The French energy and transport conglomerate Alstom is one of the seven finalists for the People’s Public Eye Awards 2013. The nomination is a result of information submitted by NGOs Focus Slovenia, SHERPA France and CEE Bankwatch Network, in which dubious business practices of the company across the world are highlighted — often linked to proven corruption or corruption allegations surrounding the awarding of contracts.
Read moreExpert assessment of Alstom’s business ethics
Publication | 4 January, 2013The French energy and transport conglomerate Alstom is one of the seven finalists for the People’s Public Eye Awards 2013. This assessment – done by experts from the Institute for Business Ethics of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland – takes a look at international treaties and Alstom’s conduct in relation to them.
Read moreThe newest EBRD member, Kosovo, does not need new coal
Press release | 22 December, 2012Pristina – As Kosovo becomes the newest member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development today, civil society groups in the country tell the bank that it should exclude from the start any investments in coal and that it could have an enormous positive impact by supporting energy efficiency measures.
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