Balkan Energy Coordinator
Email: davor AT bankwatch.orgTel.: +389 71 264 087
More from Davor Pehchevski
The wind of change is still far from Galabovo
May 5, 2020 | Read more
The Maritsa East Complex in Bulgaria, the largest energy complex in South-East Europe, has become notorious in the region and in the European Union for its complete disregard for environmental and social safeguards.
Bankwatch’s ongoing air pollution campaign added six more locations to its independent particulate matter monitoring to provide on-the-ground data from these major polluting locations.
Western Balkan countries are stuck in a loop of long, gloomy winters with extremely high air pollution. The number of times the air quality has exceeded the limit values over the last decade remains so high, that the very point of having those limit values is lost. In order to prevent episodes of air pollution that often reach values that are more than ten times above this limit, and to provide at least some level of protection for human health, additional urgent measures are required by the governments to supplement the long term strategies.
Ashes to ashes, state aid to dust
December 11, 2019 | Read more
In a world that is plagued by over-urbanisation, it is not common for people to move away from cities. One local in Șimnicu de Sus decided to leave the city in search for some peace and quiet – and got punished for it. The improperly managed ash disposal site from the nearby power plant is contaminating his house and the air he breathes with various pollutants. Now, there are even plans for expanding the site by using public money – the locals’ money.
The public prosecutor’s office in the city of Bitola on Friday filed criminal charges against the state-owned REK Bitola coal power plant and its Director for failure to implement mitigation measures at the plant’s ash landfill.
