SO2 emissions in Western Balkans coal plants six times above limit in 2019
There was no improvement last year on air pollution from lignite-fired industrial facilities reported to the European Environment Agency by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, Bankwatch said. A comparison with the national emissions reduction plans reveals coal plant sulphur dioxide emissions were increased and that they were six time higher than […]
N. Macedonia is first country in Western Balkans mulling coal phaseout before 2030
North Macedonia’s government has approved the Energy Development Strategy until 2040 which makes it the first country in the Western Balkans to consider a coal phaseout before 2030, Bankwatch said in a press release. Two of the strategy’s scenarios entail a coal exit by 2025, with the third delaying the closure of the Bitola lignite […]
EIB adopts new energy lending policy, to stop financing fossil fuel projects from end-2021
The European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Board of Directors has agreed on a new energy lending policy which envisages that the bank will stop financing fossil fuel projects from the end of 2021. The EIB will no longer consider new financing for unabated, fossil fuel energy projects, including gas, from the end of 2021 onwards, the […]
Court halts expansion of largest coal mine in Romania following Bankwatch appeal
A Bucharest court has blocked an expansion of Rosia, the largest coal mine in Romania located in Gorj county, following a legal challenge to the mine’s environmental permit lodged by Bankwatch Romania. Romania is among seven EU countries that have not declared when they will stop using coal. In 2016, Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CEO), the […]
Western Balkans urged to end subsidies for destructive small hydropower – report
The European Commission and the Energy Community need to play a role in ending state financial support for destructive hydropower plants in the Western Balkans by ensuring that the EU’s rules on state aid – including provisions on environmental sustainability – are applied in the region, according to a new report released today by CEE […]
Just transition report looks into post-coal job prospects in Romania’s Jiu Valley
NGOs Greenpeace and Bankwatch Romania have launched a new report outlining scenarios for the just transition of Romania’s best-known coal region, Jiu Valley, highlighting job growth and economic development without coal is very much possible in the region. The report, Just transition in Hunedoara – Economic diversification in a fair and sustainable manner, outlining scenarios […]
Let the sunshine in, say civil society groups
Author: Igor Vejnović, Hydropower Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network Eight civil society organisations last week submitted proposals for a revamp of Serbia’s renewables support scheme to the Ministry of Energy and Mining. All across Europe, renewables incentive schemes have been transformed in recent years to take account of the growing costs of feed-in tariffs for end […]
Complaint submitted to EnC against North Macedonia over small hydropower plants
Environmental groups Eko-Svest and CEE Bankwatch Network have filed a complaint to the Energy Community (EnC) Secretariat over North Macedonia’s redesigned renewable energy incentives scheme which they say is unfairly favoring small hydropower plants (SHPPs). As of February, North Macedonia’s renewable energy incentives system subjects solar photovoltaic (PV) producers and most wind producers, but not […]