EU neighbourhood

NGOs to EIB and EBRD: Mistakes like Šoštanj must not happen again

March 27, 2013

Source: Tanja Srnovrsnik, Energetika

Yesterday, 20 March, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network and 96 other NGOs sent a letter to the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan as they had with Slovenian lignite plant Šoštanj 6.

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: coal, energypolicy, Balkans, CEE, EU, EU neighbourhood

Nuclear Safety Plan Has Ukrainians Worried

March 27, 2013

Source: Pavol Stracansky, Inter Press Service

A 300 million euro loan to improve nuclear safety in the Ukraine has been attacked by environmental groups who say it will instead be used to keep ageing reactors working well beyond their planned lifespans – increasing the risks of a nuclear accident – while doing nothing to address serious issues with the country’s energy intensity.

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: EU neighbourhood

Hydropower development in Georgia

Georgia plans to build a huge number of dams. Yet with 85 percent of electricity needs satisfied and exports not being taxed, these plans will rather benefit private investors than offering sustainable development for Georgia.

Institution: EBRD, World Bank Group, ADB

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Other harmful projects

Guest post: Never again Sostanj

Disappointed by loan disbursements to one of the dirtiest coal projects in Europe, almost 100 organisations have called on two public lenders to not repeat the same mistakes, ever.

Tags: climate coal corruption EBRD EIB energypolicy fossil fuels lignite protest TES6 Balkans EU EU neighbourhood

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Never again Sostanj, NGOs warn European public banks after Slovenia debacle

March 20, 2013

After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network, and 96 other NGOs are today sending a letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again.

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: coal, corruption, energypolicy, fossil fuels, protest, TES6, Balkans, EU, EU neighbourhood

Open letter to EIB & EBRD: Sostanj must never happen again

Advocacy letter | March 20, 2013

After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network and 96 other NGOs sent this letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again. The letter includes a list of reasons why Sostanj was undeserving of public loans and a set of measures that need to be taken by the banks immediately in order to avoid such mistakes from being repeated in the future.

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

[Campaign update] Woes in Kosovo's energy sector trigger demand for Minister's removal

Amid increasing public outcry over electricity prices and the privatisation of the KEDS distribution company, KOSID, an industrious NGO coalition from Kosovo has called for the dismissal of Besim Beqaj, the country's Minster for Economic Development.

Tags: coal EBRD energy energypolicy KOSID Kosovo Kosovo Re lignite update Balkans EU neighbourhood

Institution: EBRD, World Bank Group

Theme: Energy & climate

EBRD finances lifetime expansion of Ukrainian nukes, but gets defensive about it

March 13, 2013

Kiev – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved yesterday a 300 million euros loan for the so-called “Safety Upgrade Programme” of Ukraine. In reality, the beneficiary company, state-owned Energoatom, will use the money to prolong the lifetime of 12 old nuclear reactors.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: EBRD, nuclear, CEE, EU neighbourhood

The EBRD, KfW, coal and corruption: European money in the Kolubara mine in Serbia

Briefing | March 12, 2013

Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mining project in Serbia is in line for support from European public banks. Corruption allegations, pollution at local level, irregularities in resettlement of local populations and not to forget a climate damaging approach to energy investments should be reason enough to find alternative options.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

New nuclear risks in Ukraine - decision expected tomorrow

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is expected to take a decision tomorrow on whether or not to provide a EUR 300 million loan for a nuclear power plant Safety Upgrade Programme in Ukraine. This article from our quarterly Bankwatch Mail sums up the issues at hand.

Tags: Bankwatch Mail EBRD energy energy grab energy security nuclear nuclear safety Ukraine CEE EU neighbourhood