ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Kazakhstan
February 18, 2011
While fatal accidents at the ArcelorMittal Temirtau mines continue, the company has so far not provided sufficient information to allow an assessment whether an EBRD funded project to improve health and safety conditions is being implemented successfully.
Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project, Georgia
February 18, 2011
In order to improve the efficiency and safety of rail operations within the city of Tbilisi the EBRD together with the EIB is considering a loan of over EUR 290 million for the Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project. The main goal of the project to avoid the transit of hazardous freight (such as oil and oil products) through the middle of the city, but there are several deep concerns that undermine the project goals and cause a serious threat to Tbilisi’s population.
Gazela Bridge rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia
February 18, 2011
The resettlement of about 170 predominantly Roma families that lived below the Gazela Bridge in Belgrade, Serbia is part of a wider project for the reconstruction of a bridge across the River Sava. Although the project is backed by European public money, donor requirements to follow World Bank Group resettlement standards have for a long time been ignored by Belgrade City Council.
Nabucco gas pipeline
February 18, 2011
The Nabucco pipeline project is based on the idea to bring Caspian or Middle Eastern gas through Turkey to the EU. Its planned route is 3300 kilometres long with an estimated construction cost of almost EUR 8 billion.
Via Baltica and Via Carpatia expressways, Poland
February 18, 2011
Expressway developments in north-east Poland could have devastating ramifications on the Knyszyn and Augustow Primeval Forests and the Biebrza Marshes – areas of extraordinary beauty that are home to unique wildelife.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, Caucasus
February 18, 2011
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Export Oil Pipeline (BTC), a key component of US Energy Security strategy, is being hailed as a model of development and poverty alleviation by the involved international financial institutions. But their involvement has once again revealed the distance between the theory and rhetoric of the development banks on the one hand and their influence on the ground on the other.
The ‘Second Backbone Corridor’ – High voltage electricity transmission lines, Ukraine
February 18, 2011
In its drive for ‘energy security’, the EU is looking to its eastern neighbour for cheap energy. But using a series of high-voltage transmission lines to import dirty energy supplies like nuclear and coal power from Ukraine will not make the EU safer, and it will lock both into an unstable and environmentally unsound energy mix.
Vienna-Brno motorway, Austria-Czech Republic
February 18, 2011
The currently proposed route for the new Brno-Vienna motorway via Mikulov and Drasenhofen, promoted by the Austrian and Czech governments, could become the most expensive and environmentally destructive way to link these two central European cities.
Krakow waste incinerator, Poland
February 18, 2011
Poland is hoping to use EU funds to construct municipal waste incinerators in 12 cities – this figure is up from the 9 that were planned in 2008. The total cost of the proposed incinerators will consume around 66% of Poland’s Cohesion Funds money for waste management for the 2007-2013 period. Moreover, as potentially only half of the 12 planned incinerators will be ready to apply for EU funding within the present financial period 2007-2013, available waste funding will be blocked for developing alternatives such as separate collection and recycling schemes.
ARCHIVED: Kumtor Gold Mine, Kyrgyzstan
February 18, 2011
The Kumtor open pit gold mine is located in a majestic surrounding in the Kyrgyzstan mountains. It receives continued support by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, despite several accidents in the past and ongoing environmental damages from the mining operations.
