UPDATED: Slovenia continues to fall into the economic abyss of the lignite plant at Sostanj
Press release | 24 January, 2014Ljubljana – The scandal-marred lignite plant TES 6 at Sostanj in Slovenia will likely cost 1.44 billion euros (2 billion US), more than double than what was initially predicted, and is due to produce annual losses of 50 million euros, show calculations recently revealed by Slovenian media. These cost escalations, predicted by NGOs critical of the project, should constitute a word of caution for other countries in South-Eastern Europe that are considering building new coal capacities.
Read morePPPs a threat to national security, says Czech national security service BIS
Blog entry | 21 November, 2013The complicated nature, hidden future debts and other characteristics of public-private partnerships have led the Czech Republic’s national security service to consider them a potential threat to public interests.
Read moreFunny business as usual in the Czech Republic – one of the biggest fines in EU funds history handed out to Prague metro project
Blog entry | 13 November, 2013The manipulation of a tender for a metro line extension in Prague – financially supported via EU funds and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has not only resulted in a huge EU funds fine, but also raises questions about the EIB’s ability to identify and avoid mismanagement in the infrastructure projects it finances.
Read moreBankwatch Mail 57
Publication | 11 November, 2013Coinciding with the beginning of international climate negotiations at the COP19/CMP9 in Warsaw and with many observers already questioning the Polish government’s ambitions for the summit, Issue 57 of Bankwatch Mail introduces the country also known as Coal-land and finds (among many other things) people protesting (successfully) against the pervasive smell of coal in the air.
Read moreNew report – How Turkey’s coal boom threatens local economies on the Black Sea
Publication | 11 November, 2013With coal power expansion booming in Turkey, a new Bankwatch report based on a recent field trip finds that the environmental impacts of coal power plants are inadequately assessed, while Turkey’s viable, clean alternatives to coal are neither being analysed or discussed seriously by senior policy- and decision-makers.
Read moreEU-backed western Balkans priority energy projects conflict with EU goals
Publication | 11 November, 2013A list of 35 regional priority energy projects selected on 24 October in Belgrade by the Energy Community’s Ministerial Council has been greeted with dismay by civil society groups from across the western Balkans.
Read moreTurkey pushes dirty coal despite solar potential second only to Spain
Press release | 4 November, 2013Istanbul — Following a fact finding mission to the Turkish Black Sea Coast, Bankwatch and Greenpeace Mediterranean publish a paper outlining some of the controversial aspects surrounding Turkish coal power plant plans in the Black Sea region.
Read moreBlack Clouds Looming – How Turkey’s coal spree is threatening local economies on the Black Sea
Publication | 4 November, 2013Since 2009 Turkey has experienced a boom in the construction of coal-fired power plants in response to growing energy demand, increasing gas prices and its abundant coal reserves. Based on a field trip to the Black Sea, this report finds that while environmental impacts of coal power plants are only inadequately assessed, alternatives to coal are neither analysed nor discussed at the policy or project levels. National authorities show a disregard of public concerns and offer only limited access to information for the public.
Read moreEU-backed energy projects will harm people and the environment in the Western Balkans
Press release | 30 October, 2013Brussels – NGOs from across the region are expressing very serious concerns about the list of 35 priority energy projects approved by the European Commission-backed Energy Community meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, last Thursday. The decision to support projects that are in conflict with EU environment goals and climate goals has seriously dented the EU’s credibility as a positive force for the protection of the environment and people’s health in the Western Balkans, say the NGOs.
Read moreHow embarrassing: EBRD transparency ranked ‘poorest’ among multilaterals
Blog entry | 29 October, 2013As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development revises its safeguard policies, the Aid Transparency Index ranks its commitment to openness and transparency as the weakest in comparison with similar institutions.
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