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EBRD blogs

Guest post: A Balkan lesson for coal investors
January 28, 2014

When Dr. Kim, President of the World Bank, and leaders of other international financial institutions ponder funding new coal power projects this year - like the one in Kosovo - there's one word that should be seared into their memories: Sostanj.

EBRD
EIB
World Bank Group
Energy & climate
Balkans, coal, corruption, costs, economics, EU neighbourhood, Kosovo, Sostanj, stranded assets, TES6
Is Egypt just stuck in transition or heading away from democracy? Considerations for the EBRD
January 10, 2014

Six months after the Egyptian army deposed Egypt's first freely elected president, the weak democratic signals by the authorities are overshadowed by widespread repression. How can the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development possibly help under these circumstances? Or put differently: Will the limited benefits to the country's private sector from EBRD engagement really be enough to outweigh the harm done by the bank's support for an undemocratic regime?

EBRD
Social & economic impacts
Egypt, EU neighbourhood, human rights, military, privatisation, repression, Southern Mediterranean, transition
Litmus test for EBRD rhetoric on democracy with Egyptian oil project
December 19, 2013

On December 18 the EBRD board of directors approved a loan of USD 50 million to finance a project aimed at the expansion of oil operations and reducing gas flaring in Egypt. Yet the tenuous political situation in the country continues to raise concerns about the bank’s ability to make a positive contribution towards the democratic process, and whether it should be investing there at all.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Arab spring, democracy, EBRD, Egypt, EU neighbourhood, human rights, MENA, Morsi, oil, Southern Mediterranean
Sounding out the EBRD's energy strategy: little ambition besides scrapping coal
December 13, 2013

At a closer look the EBRD's new energy strategy, complimented for the restrictions it places on coal lending, reveals a shocking lack of operational knowledge to implement the ambitions outlined in its executive summary.

EBRD
Energy & climate
#coalfreeEBRD, Balkans, Baltics, Caucasus, CEE, Central Asia, coal, energy, energypolicy, EU neighbourhood, Southern Mediterranean
Ukrainian nuclear sector in defiance and in financial trouble
December 4, 2013

On November 28, the state nuclear regulator of Ukraine (SNRIU) allowed the continued operation of unit 1 of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant (SUNPP-1) until December 2, 2023 - 10 years beyond its technically designed lifetime. The decision not only constitutes a breach of national regulation, but also disregards an unresolved case of non-compliance with the UN Espoo Convention. All this while Energoatom is in an increasingly tight financial situation.

EBRD
Energy & climate
CEE, Espoo, EU neighbourhood, Euratom, nuclear, nuclear safety, South Ukraine, UN convention, violation
UPDATED: Six months and counting... EBRD silent on investigations into its own operations
December 3, 2013

Is the EBRD deliberately dragging its feet on publishing investigation reports on large hydropower plants in Georgia, Macedonia and Croatia?

EBRD
Other harmful projects
accountability, Balkans, biodiversity, Caucasus, EU, EU neighbourhood, hydropower, project complaint mechanism, tranparency
EBRD soldiering on in Egypt
November 25, 2013

Adding to the ongoing febrile atmosphere in the country, Egypt's military-backed authorities just yesterday passed a controversial new law that imposes draconian restrictions on public protest. Meanwhile, in recent weeks the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has reconfirmed its intention to remain active in the country - despite a number of serious doubts still hanging over its potential impact.

EBRD
Social & economic impacts
democracy, EBRD, Egypt, EU neighbourhood, local impacts, Southern Mediterranean, transparency
PPPs a threat to national security, says Czech national security service BIS
November 21, 2013

The complicated nature, hidden future debts and other characteristics of public-private partnerships have led the Czech Republic's national security service to consider them a potential threat to public interests.

EU Funds
EBRD
EIB
Social & economic impacts
costs, Czech Republic, EU, EU neighbourhood, national budgets, PPP, public debt, public interest, public-private partnerships, security
United Kingdom's retreat from coal increases pressure on EBRD
November 21, 2013

With the United Kingdom, another major shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is divesting from coal overseas. What does this mean for the upcoming decision on the EBRD’s energy strategy?

EBRD
Energy & climate
#coalfreeEBRD, coal, COP19, divestment, energypolicy, fossil fuels, United Kingdom
Information is crucial - Villagers in the way of infrastructure in Ukraine need early support
November 15, 2013

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development helped solve conflicts between locals and Ukrainian state company Ukrenergo about an EBRD financed transmission line. On close inspection, the case illustrates that without close monitoring and support for local communities, it is left to chance and locals’ dedication that conflicts are being noticed in the first place.

EBRD
Social & economic impacts
CEE, clashes, EU neighbourhood, land owners, local communities, protection, protest, rights, transmission lines, Ukrenergo

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