Broken rivers. The impacts of European-financed small hydropower plants on pristine Balkan landscapes
December 19, 2017
Eight hydropower projects in Albania, Croatia and Macedonia financed with European public money have damaged biodiversity and are in urgent need of increased monitoring and restoration measures.
Bern Convention: Macedonian government is urged to halt construction of hydropower plants in national park
December 11, 2017
Plans for 17 hydropower plants throughout Macedonia’s Mavrovo National Park must be immediately suspended, so the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention ruled at its annual meeting last week.
Ecological integrity assessment of four rivers in Macedonia affected by derivation hydropower schemes based on aquatic macroinvertebrates
December 7, 2017
This study provides an ecological integrity assessment of four rivers in Macedonia affected by small hydropower plants which are perceived as low-impact but can have significant detrimental effects on river ecosystems. The selected plants are financed by international development banks such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Six reasons for not financing the Nenskra hydropower project in Georgia
December 5, 2017
This briefing outlines the main issues with the Nenskra hydropower project shortly before both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank will decide on financing the project.
Price tag of Georgia’s Nenskra dam goes through the roof
December 4, 2017
New information reveals the disproportionate price that Georgia’s government guarantees to pay for electricity from the Nenskra dam. The increasingly unfavourable economics strengthen calls to finally make the project’s contract publicly available.
Green Climate Fund’s preference for big players weakens transparency
October 31, 2017
The 18th meeting of the Green Climate Fund in the beginning of October confirmed again that big institutions are getting the biggest share of finances. This time it was the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who left its mark.
Nenskra HPP: the concerns of worried locals fall on deaf ears of project developers
October 12, 2017
In an interview, a teacher from Chuberi in the Svaneti mountains gave us an impression of how the project developers of the planned Nenskra dam engage with locals.
Georgia’s highlanders against hydropower
September 20, 2017
As the Georgian government moves ahead with its plans for increasing the country’s hydropower capacity, local communities are being sidelined in the process of compensation payments.
[Campaign update] EBRD confirms negative impacts of Albanian hydropower plants on people and the environment
September 20, 2017
Recent hydropower projects in Albania exemplify the need for more climate-resilient energy sources than water. After a summer marked by drought, also the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development found flaws in the projects in helped finance.
Systematic shortcomings will deprive people affected by Georgian dam of compensation
September 11, 2017
An assessment of livelihoods of people to be affected by the Nenskra hydropower plant in Georgia is rigged with mistakes that will lead to significant losses for locals.