Investors taking advantage of corona crisis to build five small HPPs in BiH
Despite the lockdowns in the region caused by the coronavirus, the construction of five small hydropower plants (SHPPs) has begun or is being pushed in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital Sarajevo, according to a joint press release by the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Riverwatch and EuroNatur. In […]
TENDERING: Development of hydropower monitoring methodology, protocol for Albania, N. Macedonia
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has published an invitation for expressions of interest for the development of a hydropower monitoring methodology and a monitoring protocol in Albania and North Macedonia. The bank said it would select and contract a consulting company. The deadline to file a bid is February 26, according to […]
Bor, Užice ban construction of small hydropower plants
The cities of Bor and Užice have decided to ban the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs). They joined Kraljevo, Pirot, Paraćin, and Dimitrovgrad, a group of local authorities in Serbia that have already done the same or intend to, citing the damage to the environment. After two and a half years, the fight against […]
SHPP license abolished in Paraćin; Užice to shelve all 18 plans
The Department for Property and Legal Affairs of the Municipality of Paraćin has annulled the decision to approve the building license for small hydropower plant Grza on the river of the same name. The news was published by organization ‘Odbranimo Grzu’, which means defend the Grza. It had initiated the repetition of the process in […]
Green Home files criminal complaint over Bijelo Polje SHPP plan
Environmentalist organization Green Home has said it raised a criminal case with the Supreme State Prosecution Office of Montenegro against officials it claims are responsible for abuse of power in the procedure of project development for small hydropower plant Lještanica. Decision makers from the departments for spatial planning and rural and sustainable development in Bijelo […]
Damage from small hydropower is much larger than gains, study finds
The Balkans and Turkey are examples of how quickly free-flowing rivers and river stretches “can be degraded by being turned into impoundments,” World Wide Fund for Nature warned after publishing a study it commissioned together with RiverWatch, Geota and EuroNatur. Environmentalists said hydropower puts “tremendous pressure on Europe’s biodiversity, and for specific projects a disregard […]
Antigraft panel calls for review of Mavrovo SHPPs plan
North Macedonia’s State Commission for Prevention of Corruption closed a case involving deputy prime minister Kocho Angjushev as it found that he has made known his interest in the operations of MHE Topolki Doo in line with the law. At the same time, the independent body urged policymakers to reassess the environmental impact of small […]
Leonardo DiCaprio, Manu Chao support struggle against construction of HPPs in Balkans
Though ignored by politicians, the long-standing struggle against the construction of hydropower plants (HPPs) in the region is gaining more and more support from Europe and the world. Two world-known artists, as well as environmentalists, musician Manu Chao and actor Leonardo DiCaprio have supported initiatives to halt the construction of HPPs on Mt. Stara Planina […]