Investment plan for Sostanj lignite power plant TES6 (version 4, unofficial translation)
August 4, 2011
The new version of the investment programme for a new unit at the Sostanj lignite power plant was prepared by the project promoter after the Slovene government expressed doubts over the economic viability of the investment. All the three previous versions of the document were hidden from the public eye.
Letter to EBRD: Call to reject Kolubara project based on pressing human rights and climate concerns
July 25, 2011
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.
Information request regarding justification for approval of the Kolubara lignite mine project
July 20, 2011
The letter poses questions regarding the environmental and social appraisal for the Kolubara lignite mine project and the due diligence carried out by the EBRD before the project’s approval by the EBRD: How has the EBRD assessed the corporate behaviour of the Kolubara and EPS companies towards communities affected by the extension of mining operations? How has the EBRD defined the project’s influence in the Kolubara basin? Can EBRD staff provide studies or numbers justifying Serbia’s need for further growth of coal production?
Arab civil society and international groups against diverting the revolutions’ economic and social justice goals through conditionalities imposed by international financial institutions
June 20, 2011
Briefing: The EBRD and the Serbian coal sector
June 20, 2011
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and German development Bank KfW are considering supporting the development of a new field in the lignite open pit mine in the Kolubara mining complex in Serbia. Interestingly, the investment is categorised as “Environmental Improvement” on the EBRD’s website. But no matter how efficient future processing is, investments into perpetuating lignite production – the dirtiest of fossil fuels – instead of clean electricity generation alternatives rather resembles re-arranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic than serious ‘environmental improvement’.
Letter reiterating Vinci’s failure to respect Global Compact commitments on human rights
June 20, 2011
Bankwatch and the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest wrote to the Global Compact on 28th March 2011 regarding Vinci’s non-compliance with its Global Compact Commitments in relation to the first section of the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway project. Our letter subsequently formed the basis of an enquiry to Vinci by the Business and Human Rights and Human Resource Centre, to which Vinci responded on 26th April 2011. Having carefully reviewed Vinci’s response, we still believe that the company is not in compliance with its Global Compact commitments.
EBRD Draft Public Information Policy – comments
May 31, 2011
The revised Public Information Policy (PIP) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) adopts only few of the NGOs’ proposals submitted during the first stage of commenting, therefore missing the opportunity to improve the draft. We insist that the detailed comments submitted in January should be further considered by the EBRD before drafting its final PIP. These comments concentrate on several priority issues, in addition to those submitted in January.
Recommendations for the EBRD’s Public Information Policy based on comparative analysis of IFC and other disclosure policies
May 30, 2011
The current draft of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s public information policy lacks several provisions and innovations which should be considered the latest best practice in information disclosure in multilateral development banks.
Are we nearly there yet? Dilemmas of transition after 20 years of EBRD’s operations
May 20, 2011
As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development celebrates twenty years of market and democracy promotion in central and eastern Europe, Bankwatch evaluates the institution’s activities since its inception and concludes the bank needs to move swiftly and genuinely towards prioritizing social justice and lowering carbon intensity of economies, if it wants to bring real benefits to the region.
Bankwatch Mail 48
May 19, 2011
On the occasion of the EBRD’s 20th anniversary, Bankwatch Mail is complemented by a range of personal reflections from people both within and beyond central and eastern Europe, people who have worked directly on issues related to the EBRD, or who have studied the bank’s impacts.
