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‘We have no other option’ – Preparation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline in Albania

Study | 4 August, 2016 | Download PDF

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the most western part of the Southern Gas Corridor, a pipeline project to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe is promoted by the European Commission as a strategic asset for Europe’s energy security. A July visit to over 30 Albanian villages revealed the high level of dissatisfaction and confusion for people impacted by the construction of TAP.

Ukraine’s nuclear programme and the Espoo Convention – letter to the Convention’s Implementation Committee

Advocacy letter | 1 August, 2016 | Download PDF

Espoo bodies sent several specific recommendations concerning its non-compliance with the Espoo Convention to Ukraine. Nonetheless Ukraine seems to be either ignoring those or taking insufficient steps towards compliance. Therefore Bankwatch summarises the state-of-play in this letter and asks the Implementation Committee to consider a number of steps to ensure the Convention’s requirements are properly met by Ukraine.

Balkan energy projects with Chinese involvement – state of play

Briefing | 31 July, 2016 | Download PDF

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania all plan new lignite power plants during the next few years. In contrast, most EU countries are giving up building new coal plants and seven EU states are already coal-free. Since the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank have virtually halted lending for new coal power plants, most of them are due to be financed by Chinese state banks – ExIm Bank and the China Development Bank.

The economics of Pljevlja II coal plant – smoke, mirrors and EU law derogations

Briefing | 11 July, 2016 | Download PDF

Decoupling economic growth from energy consumption in Romania

Study | 6 July, 2016 | Download PDF

The report tackles the common assumption that continued economic growth necessarily entails a rise in energy consumption. The analysis shows that this is not what happens in reality, in Romania and in other EU countries. The Romanian energy ministry acknowledges that since 2009 the country’s GDP has been growing while energy consumption has been falling, but it has so far failed to factor this trajectory in the ongoing development of a new national energy strategy.