Bankwatch

Ombla hydropower plant, Croatia

An underground hydropower plant is planned to be built in a natural habitat of global significance. The project's assessments have been plagued by oddities and cannot be considered complete. In May 2013, following increasing pressure from civil society groups, the EBRD pulled out of the project for which it had approved a EUR 123 million loan.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects

Confirmatory application regarding disclosure of results of the interservice consultation for Ombla hydropower plant

Official document | February 29, 2012

The EBRD's Board of Directors approved the Ombla hyrdopower plant project on 22 November 2011, before an assessment had been carried out regarding the project's impact on a proposed Natura 2000 site. In addition the project is being carried out on the basis of an Environmental Impact Assessment study from
1999, whose content may not fully reflect the requirements of EU legislation in this area.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects

Energy Security for whom? For what?

A new report by The Corner House critically examines the notion of “energy security,” one of the buzzwords in European politics used to justify controversial infrastructure projects like the Nabucco gas pipeline or high voltage transmission lines in Ukraine. Here an introduction to the report from its authors.

Tags: energy grab energy security extractive industries human rights local impacts Central Asia EU neighbourhood Global South

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

Letter: European Commission should make use of its shareholder role in the EBRD

Advocacy letter | February 28, 2012

A look at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's investments in the Ombla hydropower plant in Croatia and the Boskov Most plant in Macedonia reveals that the EU does not make full use of its shareholder role in the Bank and allows approval of the projects that contravene EU principles and standards.

Read more on our blog:

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Other harmful projects

Bankwatch slams Romania’s free EUA request

February 27, 2012

Source: , Carbon Finance

NGO Bankwatch has criticised the national emissions plan submitted by Romania to the European Commission, claiming the east European country intends to use free emissions allowances from 2013 to invest “almost exclusively in fossil fuel facilities”.

Theme: Energy & climate

Enquiry regarding the Natura 2000 assessment process of the Ombla hydropower plant

Advocacy letter | February 27, 2012

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects

New: the EU budget - it has never been so green

February 24, 2012

Source: Sonja van Rensen , European Energy Review

For the first time ever decarbonisation is an explicit goal of the next EU budget. And it shows: the European Commission wants to devote fully 20% of the 1 trillion budget, which runs from 2014 to 2020, to climate-related actions. The goal: to change the face of the European energy system and sow the seeds for a low-carbon economy in 2050. But it is the Member States who will ultimately have to make up their minds whether they want to make the EU's green dream come true. Sonja van Renssen reports from Brussels.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate

Out of left field: A Kyrgyz inspiration for the EBRD

Following the publication of one official and one shadow report on the Kumtor gold mine, Kyrgyz authorities have responded to the calls of Bankwatch and other environmental groups to take a tougher stance on the Kumtor mining operations. The EBRD should follow their example.

Tags: communities extractive industries gold local impacts mining policy pollution success water Central Asia

Institution: EBRD

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

The dirty French-Slovenian connection

February 23, 2012

Slovenian state anti-corruption body claims ALSTOM could have benefited from corrupt acts to get deal to build new lignite plant at Sostanj.

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: Balkans

High risk of corruption in Sostanj TES 6: Report by Slovenian Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (unofficial translation)

Official document | February 23, 2012

For many years TES 6 has been surrounded by rumours of corruption. In February 2012 the Slovene State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption published a report stating that acts of corruption could have influenced the awarding of the contract to French company ALSTOM and that the law on the state guarantee itself was initially drafted by employees of HSE, the owner of the Sostanj power complex.

Slovene NGO Focus Association for Sustainable Development has translated the report to English. (The original report (in Slovenian language) is available for download here (pdf).)

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate