Home >> Our work

Our work

We challenge international financial institutions not to finance environmentally and socially harmful investments.

We call for public money being spent on climate-friendly development that is not driven by economic growth per se but by benefits to society and the environment in economically sustainable ways.

Current campaigns


Coal in the Balkans

Countries in south-eastern Europe are strategic partner countries for the EU's energy sector. They also have high ambitions for coal power. The planned energy investments in central and eastern Europe would bring staggering amounts of coal capacities and devastating climate and health impacts.

Find out more

 

Gas for Europe. At any cost?

The Southern Gas Corridor, a system of mega-pipelines meant to bring gas from the Caspian region to Europe, is unnecessary in light of gas demand projections but will boost Azerbaijan's dictatorial regime and cause damage to local communities and the environment.

Find out more

 

Hydropower in Georgia

In Georgia's staggering mountains, a largely unexploited hydropower potential has attracted private investors, the Georgian government and international lenders. Many hydropower projects, however, pose risks for locals that are largely being underestimated or ignored.

Find out more

 

Projects we monitor


See below a list of projects monitored by Bankwatch that receive or may receive international public finance.

Search projects by

The 450 MW Tuzla 7 project would result in additional coal capacity compared to the current situation. The city already suffers from significant air pollution due to the existing power plant and several other industrial facilities. The project would be implemented by the China Gezhouba Group Co. and is slated for financing from the China ExIm Bank.

Chinese investors

EFT’s 300 MW Stanari power plant, constructed by China's Dongfang, and financed by the China Development Bank, is located near Doboj in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Republika Srpska part of the country. Originally it was planned to be a 420 MW plant but this was considered to be on the edge of economic viability and the capacity was reduced to 300 MW.

Chinese investors

The Serbian government is planning a new 350 MW lignite plant at Kostolac in the country’s north-east. In spite of high level support and Chinese financing, the project is being plagued by concerns over pollution, state-aid and legal challenges.

Chinese investors

Tasked with stimulating the European economy, the new investment fund may just become an extention of the European Investment Bank’s normal lending with very limited additional (green) finance.

EIB
EU Funds

Croatian plans to more than double the capacity of the Plomin coal power plant would have resulted in increased carbon-emissions for several decades. The project’s profitability was questionable and the plans were facing local opposition and conflicting regional legislation.

EBRD
EIB

Ugljevik III near Bijeljina in the Republika Srpska part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is planned to consist of 2x300 MW units which would take lignite from the open cast mines at Delici, Peljave-Tobut, Baljak and part of Ugljevik-Istok. An existing unit of 300 MW at the site, operating since 1985, sits alongside the half-built Ugljevik II whose construction was never finished, and which is now the subject of a long-running dispute with Slovenia.

Chinese investors

The Kolubara B thermal power plant site is situated near Kalenic village, 60 km south-west of Belgrade, at the northern side of the Tamnava Open Cast Mine. The decision to build the 2x350 MW plant was taken in 1983 and construction started in 1988. Construction progressed slowly until 1992, when work was suspended due to sanctions against Serbia. At this stage about 40 percent of the facility had already been constructed, partly with the assistance of a World Bank loan.

World Bank Group

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.

EBRD
World Bank Group
ADB

Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mine in Serbia will receive loans 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 alternatives to lignite mining.

EBRD

With the spotlight bright on Volkswagen for cheating in emission tests, the EU's house bank must now come forward and show exactly what it has done to ensure proper oversight over its loans to the company.

EIB