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Financing for hydropower in protected areas in southeast Europe

Southeast Europe is experiencing a wave of hydropower projects. In a region with a deadly combination of Europe's last wild rivers, rampant corruption and inadequate nature protection, the potential for damage is immense. In order to address this issue, we need to know who is making it happen. This research aims - to the extent possible given the secrecy around the financial sector - to find out who are the main actors involved in financing hydropower projects in the region, both overall and inside of protected areas.

Update January 2017

The EBRD has said that financing has been cancelled for four small hydropower plants in Macedonia: Zrnovska reka 1, Zrnovska reka 2, Estericka reka, Kadina reka.

In addition, financing has been cancelled for the 68 MW Boskov Most plant in the Mavrovo National Park, also in Macedonia.

Regarding the Ternove SHPP in Albania, the EBRD has said that it had conducted an on-site investigation into the concerns received in a letter from an affected citizen. The bank found nothing to substantiate the allegations. Bankwatch will continue to monitor the issue.

"EBRD priznao greške sa EPS-om"

Source: B92, B92

Beograd -- EBRD je priznao greške načinjene sa EPS-om u okviru projekata izvođenih u Vreocima i od preduzeća se očekuje da unapredi svoje procedure, saopštava CEKOR.

Kako je navedeno na sastanku predstavnika CEKOR-a i direktora EBRD za Srbiju Danijela Berga, organizacija očekuje da EPS ubrza raseljavanje Vreoca, kao i da se angažuje i na društveno odgovornom raseljavanju domaćinstava obuhvaćenih zaštitnim zonama rudarenja u selima Junkovac, Radljevo, Baroševac, Zeoke u kolubarskom i sela Drmno u kostolačkom regionu.

Macedonia urged to suspend controversial hydropower project

Strasbourg, Skopje, Prague - In the latest blow to planned hydropower dam in Macedonia's Mavrovo National Park, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, the European wildlife treaty, added today its voice to growing calls to reconsider this reckless project. The spotlight is now on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project's main financier.

Bern Convention Committee to decide fate of Balkan lynx and Boskov Most hydropower plant in Macedonia

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The critically endangered population of the Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) may be getting a new lease on life this week after being threatened by planned hydropower constructions in its core area of reproduction.


Kosovo aims to secure largest ever investment amid political crisis

Source: Clare Nuttall, BNE Intellinews

Pristina is moving towards a deal with US-based ContourGlobal on the planned Kosova e Re power plant, which at a cost of €1bn will be the largest investment in the country’s history.

The government says the project will solve Kosovo’s chronic electricity shortages by replacing the aging Kosova A thermal power plant - considered Europe’s worst polluter - with a modern 500MW plant. However, the strong opposition to the plans to build a new coal-fired power plant close to the capital could add to the ongoing unrest within Kosovo.

Abschied von der Kohle

Source: Frontal 21, ZDF

Ein globales Netzwerk hat dem Klimawandel den Kampf angesagt und will Investoren zwingen, Kohle-, Öl- und Gaskonzernen das Kapital zu entziehen.

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I Japan ograničava financiranje termoelektrana na ugljen

Source: Regional Express, Regional Express

SVE VIŠE PREPREKA PRED PLOMINOM C

Harmful hydropower projects in SE Europe enabled by sub-standard environmental assessments

Civil society organisations today published a new report looking at the quality of 25 environmental impact assessments (EIA) and 2 strategic environmental assessments (SEA) done for hydropower projects in seven countries in the last five years and examines how the mistakes made in these cases could be avoided in the future.

Vreoci: Kuće počele naglo da pucaju

Source: Jelena Milutinović, Al Jazeera Balkans

Evropska banka za obnovu i razvoj prekršila je sopstvene procedure kada je 2011. godine Elektroprivredi Srbije odobrila kredit od 80 miliona eura. Kredit je namijenjen unapređenju životne sredine Rudarskog basena Kolubara. Na osnovu prigovora koji je uputilo Ekološko društvo Vreoci, interna kontrola u Evropskoj banci utvrdila je da prilikom odobravanja kredita nisu uzeti u obzir svi ekološki aspekti. Na to odavno ukazuju eko aktivisti naselja Vreoci, koje se nalazi na samom obodu rudarskog bazena Kolubara. Njihovu priču ima Jelena Milutinović.

EBRD policy breaches at Serbia coal mine confirmed by bank's own complaint mechanism

Prague, Belgrade - A day after the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a new EUR 200 million loan for Serbia's electric utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), an internal review at the Bank finds that it breached its own environmental and social policy when approving the previous EUR 80 million loan to the same company.

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