European Parliament wants green energy, not coal, as part of Kosovo integration
April 19, 2013
The European Parliament yesterday blasted the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for considering financing of the planned USD 2 billion Kosova e Re lignite power plant near Pristina.
Comments on draft EBRD strategy for Kosovo
April 18, 2013
These comments focus in particular on the energy sector in Kosovo to avoid a replication of mistakes that the EBRD made in other countries in the region. The Kosovo energy sector presents a wide range of serious challenges and it is of particular concern that the draft strategy includes specifically the new Kosovo lignite power plant project among its possible interventions (while not specifying specific energy efficiency or renewable energy projects).
KOSID comments on draft EBRD strategy for Kosovo
April 17, 2013
Kosovo Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development (KOSID) is an umbrella for Civil Society groups in Kosovo that follow projects with the aim of contributing to more sustainable solutions. KOSID consists of think tanks, civic initiatives, public information and outreach organizations, and specific professional institutions and associations; those work together as a group in following the projects. KOSID’s comments on the EBRD’s draft strategy for Kosovo argues against supporting a new lignite-fired power plant near Prishtina.
Letter to EBRD: Kosovo strategy procedural concerns
April 15, 2013
The 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.
Kosova e Re lignite power plant, Kosovo
March 29, 2013
CANCELLED: For more than a decade, successive Kosovo governments planned to build a new 500 MW lignite plant (around 450 MW net), Kosova e Re or New Kosovo. The controversial project was finally cancelled in 2020 after concession-holder ContourGlobal pulled out.
NGOs to EIB and EBRD: Mistakes like Šoštanj must not happen again
March 27, 2013
Yesterday, 20 March, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network and 96 other NGOs sent a letter to the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan as they had with Slovenian lignite plant Šoštanj 6.
Guest post: Never again Sostanj
March 20, 2013
Disappointed 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.
Never again Sostanj, NGOs warn European public banks after Slovenia debacle
March 20, 2013
After 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.
[Campaign update] Woes in Kosovo’s energy sector trigger demand for Minister’s removal
March 18, 2013
Amid 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.
The Western Balkans: EBRD’s public money to finance coal plants that threaten EU’s long-term climate targets?
March 18, 2013
The 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.