Bankwatch in the media

NGOs against European bank's plan to fund Egypt's oil drilling project

al bawaba | May 28, 2013

They urged the EBRD “to reject the loan, or at least postpone its decision”

A group of NGOs have announced their opposition to a proposed loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to fund oil drilling projects in Egypt.

The EBRD is expected to decide on Wednesday whether or not it will provide a $40m loan to Kuwait Energy, according to a statement published by a coalition of NGOs including the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and European groups CEE Bankwatch and Platform.

NGOs oppose European bank’s plan to fund oil drilling in Egypt

The Daily News Egypt | May 28, 2013

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development proposes a $40m loan for Kuwait Energy to drill for oil

Polish gas policy under fire

New Europe | May 21, 2013

On 21 May, Bloomberg reported that the Polish gas policy followed by the government has led many North American companies to leave the country. However, the tax measures haven’t become law yet.

EBRD Chief Warns to Expect More Investment in Coal

Oilprice.com | May 14, 2013

Riccardo Puliti, the energy chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), one of the most influential government –owned investment organisations in the energy industry, has stated that it may begin to invest more heavily in coal projects.

Puliti argues that when looking at where to invest in the energy market it is not always possible to maintain an ideological policy on carbon intensity, and that other important factors must also be considered.

Carbone, una delle più grandi banche europee rilancia gli investimenti

Ecologiae | May 14, 2013

Il carbone ci ha portato in una situazione ambientale insostenibile. Ma siccome porta lavoro, bisogna continuare ad investire in quel campo. Questa scriteriata scelta non arriva da un’imprenditore dell’ultima ora ma da Riccardo Puliti, capo della divisione energia della EBRD, la Banca Europea per la Ricostruzione e lo Sviluppo. In pratica una delle principali banche del Vecchio Continente che si occupano di finanziare i grandi progetti imprenditoriali.

Greens appeal to PM and EBRD to scrap Ombla project

Dalje.com | May 14, 2013

About 40 civil society organisations from throughout Croatia and international organisations, including Friends of the Earth International, Bankwatch and Justice and Environment, have sent letters to Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Suma Chakrabarti, appealing that they abandon the plan for the construction of a harmful and expensive hydroelectric power plant on the Ombla river in the Dubrovnik area of southern Croatia.

Serbia mining at centre of debate

SETimes | May 14, 2013

The Kolubara mining basin covers 600 square kilometres, producing 30 million tonnes of lignite and more than 50 percent of Serbia's electricity annually. While government and international investors claim Kolubara is crucial to Serbia's energy security, critics said expansion has come at heavy social and environmental cost.

Arab organisations speak out against EBRD

Daily News Egypt | May 13, 2013

Economic and environmental concerns surrounding EBRD’s plans for SEMED region conveyed by regional groups

European development bank defends coal investments

RTCC | May 13, 2013

Europe: The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has defended its coal investments and warned that low carbon ideology should not steer decisions on which energy projects it backs.

European energy chief puts forward case for funding coal

Guardian | May 13, 2013

EBRD chief Riccardo Puliti warns Europe not to be hasty in adopting 'ideological' policy on carbon intensity funding