EBRD tightens standards in response to Balkan hydropower boom
May 16, 2019
As a result of public resistance to small-scale hydropower projects in the Balkans, from the beginning of 2020, the EBRD will ask commercial banks to refer all high-risk projects – including all hydropower plants – for additional checks. The EBRD also requires them to meet higher environmental standards than previously. The bank will ask that such projects are disclosed to the public on the financial intermediary’s website, finally increasing disclosure on these hitherto hidden projects.
Indigenous communities in Georgia threatened by a major hydropower project financed with European public money
May 10, 2019
There are many reasons why the Nenskra hydropower plant in Georgia should not be built at all. The project is set to have devastating environmental and social impacts, and its economics are particularly shoddy.
Five reasons why EBRD should pull out of the controversial Nenskra hydropower project
May 8, 2019
As the realisation of the project keeps dragging on, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the EBRD, and all international financial institutions involved, to justify their engagement.
Goldman winner to development banks: drop billion dollar Nenskra dam in Georgia
April 29, 2019
The 2019 winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize from Europe Ana Colovic Lesoska has today called on development banks – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank and (ADB) the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – to drop their funding for the Nenskra hydropower project planned in Georgia’s Caucasus mountains.
Stop billion dollar Nenskra dam in Georgia
April 29, 2019
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EU-China summit an opportunity to tackle Chinese support for coal in southeast Europe
April 8, 2019
Brussels – With the EU-China summit kicking off in Brussels on April 9, Bankwatch launches a new analysis [1] showing 3.5 GW of new coal may be built in southeast Europe with Chinese support, including in EU member states Romania and Greece.
Chinese-financed coal projects in Southeast Europe
April 8, 2019
EU member states Romania and Greece, as well as several EU enlargement countries in the Western Balkans, plan to build new lignite power plants. The Balkan coal plans starkly conflict with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting climate change to 1.5°C b
Energy Community opens infringement procedure against Bosnia-Herzegovina over illegal Tuzla 7 state aid
March 26, 2019
The Energy Community Secretariat has today announced that it is officially opening a dispute settlement procedure on the planned Federal guarantee for a EUR 614 loan from the China Eximbank to build the Tuzla 7 coal power plant in Bosnia-Herzegovina.[1] The procedure can potentially lead to delays in the EU accession process and temporary suspension of financing by EU banks.
Energy Community: Western Balkan coal subsidies worth over 1.2 billion euros in 2017
March 25, 2019
For immediate release. Energy Community countries propped up coal mining and electricity generation with direct and indirect public subsidies totalling at least 2.4 billion annually, out of which around half were provided by Western Balkan countries, shows a study (1) released today by the Vienna-based Secretariat of the Energy Community Treaty, the international treaty working to integrate the energy markets of the EU with those of its neighbours.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Federal parliament guarantees Chinese coal plant loan in contempt of EU law
March 8, 2019
The Bosnia-Herzegovina Federal House of Representatives yesterday approved an illegal loan guarantee for a EUR 614 million China Exim Bank loan for the Tuzla 7 coal power plant, in blunt contempt of its commitment to abide by EU law on subsidies under the Energy Community Treaty.
