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Article

22 Oct 2013

Author:
CEE Bankwatch Network

Dirty power plants in Europe's neighbourhood set to become EU priority

...Several environmentally damaging coal and hydropower projects across the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova are likely to be included...on a priority list of projects of the European Commission-backed Energy Community, meaning they will be fast-tracked for financing over the next years. The Energy Community is meant to integrate EU and Neighbouring countries energy systems. Among the projects submitted for prioritisation by Neighbouring EU countries members of the Energy Community, 15 have been identified by Bankwatch as prone to causing serious harm to the climate, environment and health. These include the Kosova e Re lignite power plant in Kosovo, three lignite plants including Kolubara B in Serbia, and two new coal units in western Ukraine - Burshtyn and Dobrotvir - that would be aimed mostly at electricity exports to the EU, while leaving health and environmental costs to local population. Several hydropower plants in Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina...are also on the list...The selected projects will be allowed to undergo a fast-track approval process on the national level, which may mean the concerned public might not be consulted thoroughly before approval. Despite repeated requests by NGOs and local groups to see a potential list of projects approved for prioritisation, the Energy Community has refused to disclose any information to date.