Energy & Extractive Industries | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/extractive Home IssuesEnergy & Extractive Industries Energy & Extractive Industries Overview Background Concerns Problem Projects Updates Resources Contacts RSS Update \| 24 September 2008 Dramatic increase in World Bank loans to Europe and Central Asia The World Bank Group (WBG) loans to countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) increased by 30% between FY07 and FY08. Read more Update \| 19 September 2008 EBRD approves Pechora Energy Project in Komi Republic The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a US$50 million loan for expansion of oil and gas extraction operations in the Timan-Pechora basin of the northern Komi Republic in Russia. Various civil society groups have raised concerns of the major project's implications for the environment and the indigenous Komi-Izhemts people's rights. Read more Update \| 18 September 2008 Additional challenges for the BTC Pipeline Following the August 25 reopening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline after the armed conflict in Georgia, the BTC has faced several technical and strategic issues when it comes to its future and viability. Read more Update \| 12 September 2008 World Bank announces withdrawal from Chad-Cameroon Pipeline after early repayment The World Bank’s request amounts to an admission of failure in one of its most controversial and disastrous projects – once touted as a “model” for high-risk projects - after the Chadian government repeatedly used its newfound oil wealth in contravention of its agreements to invest in poverty reduction. Read more Press Release \| 21 August 2008 Global civil society calls for private banks to withdraw support from Bangladesh coal mine Over 100 civil society groups from 31 countries are calling on financial backers to withdraw their support from the the controversial Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh. The project will displace over 200,000 people, impoverish farming households and cause immense environmental impacts in one of the most fertile regions of Bangladesh. Despite these factors, according to information available on its website, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains interested in financing the project after having distanced itself from it earlier this year. Read more Update \| 20 August 2008 Banks active in extractive projects in Russia’s Komi Republic IFI involvement in mining and oil projects in the Timan-Pechora basin raises environmental and social concerns. Read more Update \| 19 August 2008 Bretton Woods institutions send mixed messages about China’s role in Africa Since the Chinese economy has taken off and it has increasingly looked to Africa to provide raw materials, the World Bank and IMF have been confronted with the question of how to respond. Recent statements by the institutions have shown that these responses are careful and at times contradictory. Read more Update \| 14 August 2008 Possible World Bank role in Azerbaijan’s privatization corruption James Wolfensohn, a former World Bank president, may have assisted a corrupt businessman seeking control of Azerbaijan’s state oil company. Read more Update \| 14 August 2008 Available company data for IFC required disclosures The International Finance Corporation (IFC) fails to provide adequate links to government payment disclosures by its extractive industry clients. Read more Update \| 11 August 2008 IFC considers record mining investment in Guinea as its Simandou concession comes under dispute The International Finance Corporation's (IFC) $35 million investment in a Guinea iron mine is in jeopardy after the government rescinded a deal with mining company, Rio Tinto. At the same time, the IFC is exploring the possibility of a $500 million stake in a massive aluminum project in the West African country. Read more Update \| 11 August 2008 Turkmenistan’s pipeline prospects: China, Russia, India, or Europe? As the great powers seek energy security, Turkmenistan is at the center of a number of pipeline proposals. Read more Update \| 7 August 2008 Explosion along the BTC Pipeline confirms civil society concerns A fire on the Turkish segment of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline has led to declined oil production, pipeline closure, and security fears. Read more Press Release \| 5 August 2008 World Bank acknowledges serious flaws in West African Gas Pipeline But questions on compensation for displaced, “upstream” impacts, and gas flaring remain unanswered. Read more Update \| 23 July 2008 World Bank’s lending for fossil fuel skyrockets as it positions itself as the “climate bank” As the World Bank prepares to launch two new climate investment funds at the upcoming G8 summit, and positions itself as the "climate bank," new statistics developed by the Bank Information Center show that the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), increased its lending for fossil fuel projects by a staggering 165% in FY2008. Taken as a whole, the World Bank Group increased its fossil-fuel lending by 60% in the same period. Read more Update \| 17 July 2008 IMF working group drafts guidelines for sovereign wealth funds On July 9-10, 2008, the International Monetarty Funds’s (IMF) Working Group on Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) held a two-day meeting in Singapore to address concerns around SWFs and consider possible guidelines. Read more Update \| 17 July 2008 EIB expands its operations to Central Asia Europe’s pursuit of new energy routes has helped secure Central Asia’s eligibility for funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), leading to concerns about further extractive industry financing in the region. Read more Update \| 14 July 2008 Sakhalin II receives funding for second phase On June 16, 2008, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) agreed to loan up to $3.7 billion for the controversial oil and gas project in Russia. Read more Update \| 2 July 2008 Election controversy raises questions for Mongolia’s mining sector July riots signal the importance of transparency and responsible revenue management for Mongolia’s political stability. Read more Update \| 1 July 2008 BIC's new handbook for advocacy on extractive industry revenues Bank Information Center has recently released it's new "Handbook for Advocacy on Extractive Industry Revenues: Good Practices and the IMF’s Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency." Read more Update \| 24 June 2008 Bota Foundation established The Bota Foundation, administered by the World Bank, held its first Board of Trustees meeting in June. Read more Update \| 23 June 2008 World Bank continues to push African hydro despite concerns over vulnerability to climate change World Bank involvement in the proposed Inga and Kafue dams has brought criticism over the continued reliance on hydro in a warming world, and intentions to power foreign mining companies. Read more Update \| 21 June 2008 Newmont prepares mining operations in Ghana forest reserve As Newmont, the world's largest mining company prepares for gold mining operations in Ghana, civil society groups challenge the purported benefits for local communities. Meanwhile, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has come under fire for the environmental and social legacies of its gold mining investments in Ghana and its plans proceed to begin the next phase of Newmont's controversial Ahafo gold project. Read more Update \| 10 June 2008 Lukoil and Gazprom strike oil in the Caspian Sea Russian oil and gas companies Gazprom and Lukoil discovered a major oil and gas condensate deposit in the Caspian Sea. The deposit will be developed along with Kazakhstan. Read more Update \| 10 June 2008 Kazakhstan signs BTC agreement into law, plans new pipelines Kazakhstan has signed into law a 2006 agreement to transport oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, while making plans to connect its oil to the BTC route through additional domestic and trans-Caspian pipelines. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Azerbaijan Country Update #14 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Azerbaijan. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Kazakhstan Country Update #16 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Kazakhstan. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Kyrgyz Republic Country Update #5 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the Kyrgyz Republic. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Mongolia Country Update #2 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Mongolia. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Georgia Country Update #1 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Georgia. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Russia Country Update #1 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Russia. Read more Press Release \| 30 April 2008