Questionable transition impact of the Ombla and Boskov Most hydropower plants
November 4, 2011
The EBRD has a specific mandate to promote transition to a market economy and to ensure environmental sustainability in all its operations. Additionally to the unacceptable environmental impacts of the hydropower plant projects Ombla (Croatia) and Boskov Most (Macedonia), both projects do not comply with the EBRD’s mission. We believe the bank should not support them.
Hydropower vs. nature in southeast Europe: EBRD complicity in environmental crime?
October 31, 2011
Why is it that when we advocate for something to the international financial institutions (IFIs) they often manage to give it a peculiar twist of their own?
Open letter requesting EBRD to withdraw from the Ombla hydroelectric plant project
October 26, 2011
The Ombla hydropower plant is planned to be built in a cave in Croatia that is part of a proposed Natura 2000 site, but the environmental, economic and social impacts have only insufficiently been assessed by the project promoters. More than 30 Croatian and international civil society organisations therefore urged the EBRD to not approve a loan for the project.
NGOs call on the EBRD not to finance “high risk” underground HPP in Croatia
October 26, 2011
Zagreb — Croatian and international environmental organisations have today called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) not to go ahead with a planned EUR 123 million loan for the Ombla hydropower plant near Dubrovnik in Croatia, due to be approved by the bank’s Board of Directors on November 8. In an open letter to the bank, the organisations point to ecological, economic, and procedural problems with the plans, which even the consultants hired by the EBRD to assess the project have described as “high risk”.
NGOs urge stop to EBRD loan for Dalmatian hydropower plant
October 26, 2011
Environmental organizations in Croatia and abroad are urging the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) not to go ahead with a planned 123 million Euro loan for the Ombla hydropower plant near Dubrovnik because of devastating consequences the plant’s construction could have on the environment.
IFC Funding for Paravani HPP
June 23, 2011
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide USD 115.5 million credit to finance construction of 87 MW Paravani hydro power plant in the south-west of Georgia.
Bringing Georgian realities to the EBRD drawing board
May 30, 2011
David Chipashvili from Bankwatch member group Green Alternative in Georgia talks about the opportunities and threats in bringing concerns from the ground to the attention of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Paravani Hydro Power Plant, Georgia
May 15, 2011
The Turkish company Georgian Urban Energy (GUE) has requested a USD 44 million EBRD loan for the Paravani HPP, an 87 MW plant using a 14 km derivation tunnel in order to divert water from the Paravani river to the Mtkvari river. Bankwatch member group Green Alternative has deep concerns regarding the project’s potential negative impacts as well as its overall justification.
Economic liberalisation trumps democratisation in EU Neighborhood Policy, says Bankwatch
March 2, 2011
The strategic review of the European Neighbourhood Policy initiated by the European Commission last year should ensure that funds disbursed through the ENPI mechanism truly promote the development of democratic institutions, human rights and environmental sustainability in Partnership countries, says CEE Bankwatch Network.
Letter to IFIs regarding Georgian hydropower plants
July 23, 2009
We have received the following responses: On July 29, 2009 from EBRD (pdf here). On August 4, 2009 from EIB (pdf here). On August 27, 2009 from World Bank (pdf here).
