High-profile arrests in Croatia highlight claims of corruption in renewables in region
At least two government officials are suspected of abuse of power in the case of the biggest wind farm in Croatia, which receives a substantial stimulus. The scandal follows massive complaints by the local population throughout Southeastern Europe and numerous accusations by activists of irregularities and corruption in projects for renewables, mostly small hydropower plants. […]
Most read in November: DiCaprio, Manu Chao join fight against SHPPs, conference on RES in district energy, Croatia’s first geothermal power plant
The support from Leonardo DiCaprio and Manu Chao for the initiative to ban the construction of small hydropower plants on Vjosa River in Albania and the part of the Balkan mountain range in Serbia was the most popular last month among our readers. Also check out the top three list for the part of our […]
Investor pulls out of SHPP project after clashes on Mt. Stara Planina
Residents of the village of Topli Do on Mt. Stara Planina in Serbia clashed yesterday morning with security and workers accompanying investor Dragan Josić in an attempt to start the construction of a small hydropower plant (SHPP). The outcome was the investor’s announcement he was pulling out of the project, as well as that he […]
Run-of-river hydropower: Two years on, the struggle continues
More than two years on, the public and citizens across the Balkans fighting for the right to water and against run-of-river small hydropower plants are not giving up on their struggle. Protests and actions were organized from July 6 to 16 across the region, with a conference titled “Rakita – the rule of law crushed” […]
Protests against hydropower planned across Balkans from July 6-16
Environmental activists and civil society organizations (CSOs) from across the Balkans are organizing protests under the slogan “Our rivers – No DAMage!” in July over hydropower projects threatening to leave local populations without homes, arable lands, drinking water, and irrigation supply, or the landscape they have enjoyed for generations. The protests against hydropower plants (HPPs) […]
There is no life without water, and small hydropower plants would extinguish it on Stara Planina
Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta has been fighting against the construction of run-of-river small hydropower plants (SHPPs) on Mt. Stara Planina (the Balkan mountain range) since 2016. Growing up, Jovanović witnessed much better hydrological days of the rivers and streams of Stara Planina, which have since been hurt by climate change and investors’ plans to build SHPPs. […]
Dimitrovgrad municipality proposes ban on SHPPs on its territory
The Municipal Council of Dimitrovgrad in eastern Serbia has adopted a decision to propose the expulsion of all potential locations for the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) from the local spatial plan, Južne vesti reported. The 1987 cadastre for SHPPs envisages the construction of 12 facilities in the Dimitrovgrad municipality and although none have […]
Thousands of protesters demand halt of SHPP construction from government, Serbian President
A few thousand citizens from all over Serbia gathered at Belgrade’s Faculty of Philosophy square to rally with a single demand – the immediate halt of the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs). The organizer of the rally, the Defend the Rivers of Mt. Stara Planina movement has submitted a request for the construction of […]