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Balkan coal news

Western Balkans are massively expanding coal power - but the new plants may have to be closed again soon
Blog entry | March 29, 2017

At least 9 new lignite power plants are being planned in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, but according to our new report their feasibility studies do not take into account the effect of CO2 prices. As a result, when these countries join the EU, the plants will not be competitive anymore and will need to be closed down – just like the many coal power plants in Western Europe that are now being shut. The taxpayers in the Western Balkans will end up footing the bill.

Chinese investors
Export credit agencies
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Balkans, carbon emissions, coal, Energy Community, ETS, EU neighbourhood, stranded assets
Overlooked carbon costs could turn Western Balkans' new coal power plants into white elephants - analysis
Press release | March 29, 2017

A new Bankwatch analysis examining ten coal-fired power plant projects across the Western Balkans finds that, once the cost of carbon emissions allowances are factored in, they could become a serious liability for both the companies involved and the public. Moreover, only a few feasibility assessments for coal power plants in the region are publicly available, and most of those have failed to properly take carbon costs into account, the briefing authors note.

Chinese investors
Export credit agencies
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Balkans, carbon emissions, CO2 allowances, coal, emission limits, Energy Community, EU neighbourhood, state aid, stranded assets
Under heavy skies: dire results from first independent pollution monitoring in Montenegro
Blog entry | February 23, 2017

It was ten in the evening on 17 December when my colleague and I arrived in Pljevlja, Montenegro. Although we could feel the smell of burnt coal already while driving there, the minute we set foot out of the car, the air was stifling. “This place reminds me of childhood, it smells like in your grandparents’ house when the chimney was stuffed and all the smoke came inside. Only this is outside", he said, with a scarf pulled over his nose.

Energy & climate
Balkans
Balkans, Balkans, coal, Montenegro, Pljevlja
[Campaign update] Pljevlja residents protest against air pollution
Blog entry | December 23, 2016

Once again people from Pljevlja in northern Montenegro have taken to the streets to protest against the awful pollution that has been plaguing the town for years.

Energy & climate
air pollution, Balkans, coal, protest
Call the chimney sweepers! Independent monitoring shows for first time true level of air pollution near coal plant in Serbia
Blog entry | December 20, 2016

Smoke signals the coming of a polluted winter in Drmno, Serbia. Bankwatch’s independent air quality measurements show for the first time the alarming levels of dust particles near the Kostolac B power plant.

Chinese investors
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
air pollution, Balkans, coal, Drmno, dust particles, EU neighbourhood, Kostolac, PM10, PM2.5

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