The Balkans Are Giving Climate Change the Finger
July 7, 2015
After just five hours visiting the tiny Serbian village of Vreoci, just outside the country’s capital, environmental activist Dragana Mileusnic developed a terrible cough. Vreoci is pincered between two rapidly expanding arms of the Kolubara coal mine, one of the largest in Europe, which churns out 22 million tons of coal per year — along with what Mileusnic calls “incredible” air pollution. Now the mine owner is resettling the entire village because coal dust, smog and respiratory disease have made life there unbearable.
Romanian environmental inspectorate orders closure of two coal plants operating outside EU pollution laws
June 30, 2015
Last week the Environmental Inspectorate in Hunedoara, Romania demanded the closure of two thermal power plants at Mintia and Paroşeni, because neither of the units complies with air quality requirements of the EU’s Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD). Hunedoara Energy Complex, which manages the Mintia and Paroşeni plants, has challenged the decision in court.
After Slovenia’s Sostanj coal power plant debacle, is any bank going to finance Croatia’s Plomin C?
June 12, 2015
Slovenia’s newly built Sostanj 6 is expected to generate losses of around EUR 200 million over the next 3-4 years. Given that Croatia’s Plomin C project shares some of Sostanj 6’s features could Croatia be about to repeat its neighbour’s mistakes?
Possible coal and energy State aid cases in Energy Community countries based on publicly accessible information
June 8, 2015
By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed to abide by the European Union’s competition rules. But a number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of state aid rules. This briefing includes case studies of projects from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine. See related materials including a more detail briefing, a press release and a slideshow at:
Illegal coal subsidies could cost south-east European countries dearly, warns new study
June 8, 2015
Prague – New investments in coal mines and power plants could cost the Western Balkans and Ukraine dearly if they fail to take into account binding rules on subsidies (State aid), according to a new briefing released today by CEE Bankwatch Network.
Risks for coal and electricity investments in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova due to state-aid rules
June 8, 2015
By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed that the European Union’s competition rules are to be applied also within their territory. A number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of State aid rules. This briefing therefore provides a summary to draw attention to relevant requirements of EU law and highlight the risks of failure to take them into account when planning investments. The account when planning investments.
Ugalj bi mogao skupo koštati Balkan
June 8, 2015
Investicije u rudnike uglja i termoelektrane mogle bi skupo koštati države zapadnog Balkana i Ukrajinu, ako i dalje budu dodeljivane subvencije za te projekte. To je pokazala studija koju je danas objavila mreža CEE Bankwatch Network. Preferencijalni krediti i garancije za te projekte striktno su definisana pravilima iz Sporazuma o Energetskoj zajednici, koji je stupio na snagu 2006. a države potpisnice i dalje planiraju nove termoelektrane na ugalj i rudnike bez obraćanja pažnje na rizike te državne pomoći, navodi se u saopštenju Centra za ekologiju i održivi razvoj (CEKOR).
Balkan i EU, trgovina strujom: EU podrzava ambicije zemalja regiona za izvoz struje u EU
June 5, 2015
Studija opravdanosti, sa Procenom uticaja na društvo i životnu sredinu ESIA, za 400 kV interkonekciju između Bajine Bašte u Srbiji, Pljevalja u Crnoj Gori i Višegrada u Bosni i Hercegovini, pokazala je da će projekat doneti ekonomske koristi zemljama uključenim u projekat i da je ekonomski izvodljiv za operatore prenosnih sistema. Implementacija projekta verovatno će generisati i ekonomske koristi za tržišta električne energije u regionu jugoistočne Evrope.
Bosnien/Kroatien/Serbien: Wer ist schuld an der Flutkatastrophe vor einem Jahr?
June 2, 2015
Es war die schlimmste Flut in der Region seit Beginn der Wetteraufzeichnungen. Hunderttausende in Bosnien, Kroatien und Serbien mussten im Mai 2014 vor dem Wasser fliehen. Für 82 Menschen kam jede Hilfe zu spät. Ein Jahr danach ist ARD Reporter Darko Jakovljevic nach Rajevo Selo gefahren, ein Ort in Kroatien, der von den Wassermassen der Save komplett überflutet war. Noch heute ist an Alltag in Rajevo Selo kaum zu denken. Die Hochwasseropfer sind misstrauisch, glauben nicht, dass alles Menschenmögliche für ihre Sicherheit getan wurde.
Eighty hectares of forest still standing in the lignite county of Gorj, court rules
May 20, 2015
Bucharest – Another environmental permit for the deforestation of 80 hectares of forest has been cancelled by a Bucharest court, following a Bankwatch Romania petition. The decision curtails plans to expand a lignite quarry in the Gorj county.