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.
EBRD urged to intervene over ‘damaging’ North Macedonia hydro project
May 7, 2019
Hydropower power projects have proved to be very controversial across the West Balkans and one project in North Macedonia has put the EBRD into conflict with environmental campaigners.Source: EBRD urged to intervene over ‘damaging’ North Macedonia hydr
Construction of SHPP near Štrpce halted, Podgorica to host talks on hydropower in the region
February 12, 2019
Amid the public outcry against the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) throughout the region, with the latest cases in Štrpce in Kosovo* and at the Krapska river in Macedonia, all interested parties will have the opportunity to exchange views during two meetings in Podgorica – a public debate on planned hydropower plants (HPPs) on Morača river, as well as HPPs in BiH, Montenegro, and Serbia, and the Ministerial Conference on Transition to Sustainable Energy in the Western Balkans.
Macedonian hydropower complaint highlights EBRD’s enduring opacity
February 11, 2019
After almost a year of struggling to get basic environmental information from the EBRD about the Krapska hydropower project, Bankwatch has submitted an official complaint [1] to the bank’s Secretary General. As we run the same administrative circles over and over again, another precious river valley has been irreversibly damaged.
