EIB moves to curb intermediated hydropower financing
July 29, 2022
The EU’s house bank has recently updated its exclusion list, a document detailing what kind of projects it will not finance. This finally closes a long-standing loophole allowing ill-suited intermediaries to finance hydropower projects.
New report: Southeast Europe hydropower investment risks are high and rising
July 27, 2022
Greenfield large hydropower investments across southeast Europe (1) face major risks and low realisation rates, according to a new report by CEE Bankwatch, EuroNatur, Riverwatch and WWF Adria published today, which also highlights nine high-risk project cases (2).
Why hydropower in southeast Europe is a risky investment
July 27, 2022
Hydropower, together with coal, has traditionally played a major role in the power systems of southeast Europe, with particularly high shares in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. And today, southeast European governments, utilities and energy experts are keen to build even more hydropower.
Skavica Dam — the last thing Albania needs
July 22, 2022
Instead of increasing its energy security, Albania is pushing the construction of yet more hydropower, leading to thousands losing their land and the potential extinction of Europe’s rarest cat. Will the US International Development Finance Corporation really consider financing Skavica?
The real cost of hydropower plants in Central Asia and the Caucasus
July 12, 2022
International financial institutions’ support for hydropower in Central Asia and Caucasus is fuel for environmental damage and human rights violations.
Environnement
June 15, 2022
Heureuse issue pour un combat qui aura duré plus de quatre ans : lundi 13 juin, la marque américaine et le gouvernement albanais ont …
Плановете за възстановяване след пандемията крият и рискове според природозащитници
June 7, 2022
Като пример за ВЕИ инвестиция, увреждаща биоразнообразието, риболовен клуб Балканка дава редица водноелектрически централи в зони от …
Pouring millions from empty into the void
May 30, 2022
EBRD and EIB investments in Bulgarian hydropower have once again been hit by scandal with the recent failure of the Chaira pumped storage plant and revelations about the illegality of small hydropower plants. The planned Yadenitsa dam would be more of the same: will the EBRD and EIB be wise enough to say no?
Komarnica hydropower plant, Montenegro
March 9, 2022
Planned by Montenegro’s state-owned electricity utility EPCG, the need for the Komarnica hydropower plant has never been proven.
Republika Srpska moves ahead of its neighbours in virtually halting hydropower subsidies for new plants
February 15, 2022
Last week the Republika Srpska parliament adopted a new law on renewable energy that will help to stem the ongoing boom of highly damaging small hydropower plants. This puts it ahead of many of the region’s governments in changing the rules on renewables support.
