Sostanj lignite plant: A mistake not to be repeated
December 2, 2014
Ljubljana — A new briefing by Slovenian NGO Focus shows how misguided assessments of future viability and corruption led to TES6 lignite unit costing more than double the estimated amount, bringing annual losses of tens of millions of euros, and creating only a fraction of the number of jobs promised.
Serbian energy sector needs overhaul
September 10, 2014
The news portal Deutsche Welle has visited the Kolubara lignite mine in Serbia and produced a short clip about the difficulties faced by the Serbian energy sector. Our Serbian colleague Nikola Perusic speaks in the video about the terrible landslide that happened in May 2013.
Romanian government is seeking financial support in China for time travel into a lignite past
September 3, 2014
The renewables capacity installed in Romania has grown tenfold in the last five years and constitutes 23 percent of Romania’s installed energy capacity. Still, the government is pushing for new lignite-fired power plants.
Human chain against coal mines crosses Polish-German border
August 25, 2014
This weekend, over 7.500 people came together to form a human chain between Poland and Germany, in opposition to the expansion of lignite mines in the border area. The action, which was organised by Greenpeace with help from other NGOs across Germany and Poland, was meant to show solidarity with villagers in the south-west of Poland and south-east of Germany whose homes and livelihoods are to be destroyed if plans to expand coal mines by PGE in Poland and Vattenfal in Germany are to go ahead.
Forests sitting on lignite saved in Romania
August 14, 2014
Bankwatch and Greenpeace won a court case* in Romania this week, which will effectively prevent 59 hectares (the equivalent of 118 football pitches) of forest from being destroyed by the expansion of one of the open-pit coal mines that supplies Rovinari, one of the largest coal plants in Romania.
When water mixes with coal – The impacts of the floods in Serbia on people living next to lignite mines
May 30, 2014
People living next to the Kolubara lignite mine in Serbia have suffered more under the floods due to the vicinity of the mine. Their demands for resettlement and compensation have now become more urgent than ever.
New online toolkit to help tackle the Kings of Coal in southeast Europe and Turkey
May 5, 2014
Coal investments are a dying breed in many countries, but some investors are still ready to try their luck in southeast Europe and Turkey. For campaigners who want to communicate with these actors Bankwatch has developed the user-friendly online toolkit Kings of Coal in three languages.
Serbian NGO presses criminal charges against Kolubara mining company over landslide
April 16, 2014
One year after a landslide destroyed thirteen houses the Kolubara mining company continues to dump waste in the same area without information from its investigations forthcoming. Locals fear that more landslides may occur. Bankwatch member group CEKOR has now increased pressure on the company and the EBRD.
Three companies shortlisted for Montenegro lignite plant – but Pljevlja needs a clean-up, not more pollution
March 20, 2014
Pljevlja’s 210 MW lignite power plant, operating since 1982 in northern Montenegro, has caused controversy since the beginning of its lifetime. Even back in late ’70s Yugoslavia when the project was being planned, residents succeeded in pressing for the chimney to be taller than planned (250 metres instead of 200 metres) in an attempt to ensure that the plant’s pollution rose above the hills surrounding Pljevlja and dispersed further away.
Guest post: Dr. Kim’s World Bank legacy hinges on Kosovo climate test
March 12, 2014
Environmentalists and public finance watchdogs are taking to twitter today to urge World Bank president Dr. Jim Yong Kim to head his own rhetoric and reject the Kosovo coal power plant.
