The hydropower plant Boskov Most, Macedonia

In November 2011 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved a EUR 65 million credit to ELEM, a Macedonian state-owned company for the construction and management of the hydro power plant “Boskov Most”. Around 80% of the project falls into the territory of the “Mavrovo” National Park. According to the IUCN, most of the Boskov Most project area would fall into category II of protected areas - National Parks - in which it is not allowed to implement any kind of commercial activity, even those deemed "viable", if it has been established that there will be a negative impact on natural ecosystems and living organisms that are characteristic of the area. Yet the assessments and studies undertaken were deeply flawed as this briefing details.