Confirmatory application regarding disclosure of results of the interservice consultation for Ombla hydropower plant
February 29, 2012
The EBRD’s Board of Directors approved the Ombla hyrdopower plant project on 22 November 2011, before an assessment had been carried out regarding the project’s impact on a proposed Natura 2000 site. In addition the project is being carried out on the basis of an Environmental Impact Assessment study from 1999, whose content may not fully reflect the requirements of EU legislation in this area.
Letter: European Commission should make use of its shareholder role in the EBRD
February 28, 2012
A look at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s investments in the Ombla hydropower plant in Croatia and the Boskov Most plant in Macedonia reveals that the EU does not make full use of its shareholder role in the Bank and allows approval of the projects that contravene EU principles and standards. Read more on our blog:
Enquiry regarding the Natura 2000 assessment process of the Ombla hydropower plant
February 27, 2012
More information on the Ombla hydropower plant project is available on our website. The EBRD replied to our enquiry on March 1, 2012. Their answer can be downloaded as pdf.
Croatian civil society groups ask new government to withdraw from Ombla hydro project
December 16, 2011
Croatian environmental groups today held a protest action outside of the Croatian parliament calling on the country’s new government not to go ahead with the controversial EBRD-financed EUR 150 million Ombla HPP project.
EBRD to suspend Ombla loan disbursement until further eco studies are completed
November 28, 2011
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has said it would not disburse the recently-approved 123.2 million Euro loan for construction of the Ombla hydropower plant near Dubrovnik before the environmental impacts of the project are assessed.
NGOs condemn EBRD financing of biodiversity destruction in Croatia
November 23, 2011
Zagreb — Croatian environmental organisations Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia, the Croatian Biospeleological Society, Transparency International Hrvatska, Srđ je naš, Baobab, Eko Zeleno Sunce, Brodsko ekološko društvo-BED, Center for Environment (B&H), Eko-Zadar, WWF MedPO and regional organisation CEE Bankwatch Network have described as “extremely irresponsible” the approval yesterday by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development of a EUR 123 million loan for the construction of the Ombla underground hydropower plant near Dubrovnik. [1]
Official complaint to EBRD: Ombla hydropower project, Croatia
November 17, 2011
More information on the project is available here.
An EBRD interpretation of biodiversity protection in the western Balkans
November 14, 2011
With potentially devastating impacts on natural habitats, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has so far offered no real commitment to environmental protection in its ambiguous decisions on two hydropower plants in Croatia and Macedonia.
Ombla hydropower plant: public money down the sinkhole
November 14, 2011
Today Bankwatch member group Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth – Croatia held an action today outside the offices of the EBRD in Zagreb, calling on the bank not to approve a planned loan of up to EUR 123 million for the Ombla hydropower plant project. You can see some images from the demo here.
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.
