Letter to EBRD: Call to reject Kolubara project based on pressing human rights and climate concerns

Advocacy letter    |    25 July 2011

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Serbian and international civil society organisations call on the EBRD board of directors not to finance the Kolubara lignite mine project since it would constitute the indirect support of human rights violations committed by the project promoter and furthering coal dependency in the Serbian energy sector.

• While it may result in some efficiency improvements and emissions reductions, the project will support the dominant position and possibly the expansion of coal power in the power generation mix of Serbia.
• The project promoter, the state-owned Electroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is currently under investigation for corruption, as the Kolubara management has allegedly been implicated in a number of different schemes.
• The company has for years mistreated the communities directly affected by the Kolubara mine’s expansion.