Central Asia

European Environmental Team Harassed in Kyrgyzstan

October 22, 2015

Source: Ryskeldi Satke, The Diplomat

Kyrgyzstan’s “foreign agent” frenzy, actively supported by Russia, involved the Kyrgyz state security service (GKNB) this month after Prague-based environmental NGO CEE Bankwatch traveled to the site of protests against the Kumtor gold mine project operated by Canadian mining company Centerra Gold.

Theme: Mining

Tags: Kumtor, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia

Russia aims 'foreign agent' law at green NGO

September 15, 2015

Source: Oliver Tickell, The Ecologist

The respected Russian campaign group Sakhalin Environment Watch is being forced to choose between registering as a 'foreign agent' label and closing down, writes Oliver Tickell. Environmental campaigning, it seems, is now a 'political activity'.

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

Tags: Sakhalin Environmental Watch, Central Asia

Russian environmental organisation forced to choose between 'foreign agent' label and shutdown

September 11, 2015

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia - Sakhalin Environment Watch (SEW), Bankwatch member group in Russia's far east, has been ordered by the Russian authorities to register itself as a 'foreign agent'. The group rejects claims it is engaged in any political activity, and intends to contest the decision. If the decision is not repealed, the group will consider shutting down.

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

Tags: civil society, Dmitry Lisitsyn, Russia, Sakhalin, Central Asia

Investigation launched into Mongolian iron ore mine financed by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for impacts on local communities

September 3, 2015

Updated September 10, 2015*

Amsterdam/Ulaanbaatar/Prague - Last week, the independent accountability mechanism of the EBRD announced it will investigate *the Bank's compliance with its environmental and social standards at a mine it finances and is operated by Altain Khuder in the Gobi-Altai region of Mongolia. The investigation comes in response to a complaint filed to the EBRD’s Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) in December 2014 from herders affected by the project.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects, Development

Tags: Altain Khuder, complaint, displacement, herders, iron ore, Central Asia

European Bank Says Mining Projects Don’t Damage Glaciers

July 8, 2015

Source: Ryskeldi Satke, Glacier Hub

For years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has been involved in the Kumtor mining project, which some experts say is contaminating ground and surface waters. Kyrgyz local communities have been complaining that the gold mine is causing negative environmental and social impacts on the nearby villages. Additionally, international NGOs and Kyrgyz environmentalists believe that the Canadian-operated Centerra Gold mine is triggering rapid glacier melt due to company’s mining practices. The EBRD has denied these claims.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Mining

Tags: Kumtor, mining, Mongolia, Central Asia

Reflections on biodiversity offsetting in Mongolia

Briefing | May 25, 2015

A fact-finding mission in April 2015 to Mongolia identified serious concerns regarding the implementation of the new Mongolian Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation - in particular the specific provision on biodiversity offsetting. Oyu Tolgoi (OT), the largest mining investment ever licensed in Mongolia, has been the first project to include a biodiversity offset action in its EIA and related biodiversity management plan.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Other harmful projects, Development, Mining

Interviewing the EBRD about the Kumtor gold mine

Briefing | May 14, 2015

This interview was conducted during the EBRD annual meeting and business forum, 14-15 May 2015 in Tbilisi. The interview was led by Ryskeldi Satke (RS) with Dr. Alistair Clark (AC), EBRD’s Managing Director Environment and Sustainability Department; Michaela Bergman (MB), EBRD’s Chief Counselor for Social Issues Environment and Sustainability Department; and Dr. Dariusz Prasek (DP), Director, Project Appraisal Environment Department.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Mining

Guest post: Plight of locals at Kumtor mine brought to Centerra Gold's general meeting in Toronto

Journalist and researcher Ryskeldi Satke reports on Centerra Gold’s annual general meeting where mining activists presented shareholders with information on human rights violations and the negative environmental and social impacts of the Kumtor Gold mine.

Tags: glaciers human rights MISN Pascua Lama pollution protest toxics Central Asia

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Other harmful projects, Development, Mining

Infographic: Growth, poverty and mining in Mongolia

Leaflet | March 15, 2015

This infographic juxtaposes Mongolia's impressive economic growth over the last years with the still widespread poverty in the country.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Development, Mining

Dam Spill Threats at a Gold Mine in Kyrgyzstan

February 17, 2015

Source: , Glacier Hub

In light of the Mount Polley tailings dam spill in British Columbia, Canada, environmental activists in Kyrgyzstan are ringing alarm bells over a possible scenario of a similar outburst at Petrov Lake near the Kumtor gold mine project. At Mount Polley, the tailings dam at a copper and gold mine burst in August last year, spilling 25 million cubic meters of toxic waste into nearby lakes. The British Columbia provincial government appointed a commission to probe into the disaster.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects, Mining

Tags: Centerra, Kumtor, mining, Central Asia