Economics

Uganda Dam Slammed by World Bank Appeals Body

Thursday, December 4, 2008
Bujagali deal full of risk for one of world’s poorest countries The benefits of the Bujagali Dam project, now being built by private companies on the Nile River in Uganda, have been overstated and its risks understated, according to a 17-month investigation by the World Bank Inspection Panel. Worse, most of those risks fall on Uganda – one of the world’s poorest countries – rather than the project developers. The result could be a project that fails to fulfill the Bank’s “broad objective of sustainable development and poverty reduction embodied in Bank policy,” the Panel stat

Nov. 2008 Letter to World Bank Executive Directors on Bujagali

Thursday, December 4, 2008
November 24, 2008 Dear Executive Director: As requesters of the Bujagali Inspection Panel claim, we are very concerned that World Bank Management does not intend to seriously address the problems documented in the Inspection Panel’s recent report. We found the Panel’s report to correspond well with what we know to be key problems with the project on the ground. Yet the recent response by Management makes it clear that they have no intention of addressing the many problems and failures to meet Bank policy as documented by the Panel. We urge you and the other members of the World Ba

Dodgy Deal: Madeira River Dams, Brazil

Rio Madeira Dam Protest, 2006
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Madeira River Project consists of two huge hydroelectric dams on the Madeira, the principal tributary of the Amazon River in Brazil: Santo Antonio (installed generating capacity 3,150 MW) and Jirau (installed capacity 3,300 MW) - at a total cost of approximately US$10 billion. The financing for the project is not yet finalized, however, Brazilian as well as Spanish and Portuguese banks are interested in providing finance for the project. The Brazilian state-owned banks Banco do Brasil*, along with the largest Brazilian private banks Banco Itaú*, Banco Bradesco* and Unibanco* are currentl

Economic Impacts of Dams

Large dams have long been promoted as providing "cheap" hydropower and water supply. Today, we know better. The costs and poor performance of large dams were in the past largely concealed by the public agencies that built and operated the projects. Dams consistently cost more and take longer to build than projected. In general, the larger a hydro project is, the larger its construction cost overrun in percentage terms. The true risks and costs of dams are being forced into the open due to increasing public scrutiny and attempts to attract private investors to existing and new pro

World Bank Energy Framework Sells Climate and Poor People Short – NGOs

Sunday, September 17, 2006
Singapore -- The World Bank’s promise to seriously support alternative energy sources remains unfulfilled, according to a new report published today to coincide with the World Bank’s annual meeting. The report, published by international environment and development organizations, concludes that the World Bank’s new Investment Framework on Clean Energy and Development will not be effective at combating climate change and expanding energy access for the poor. The World Bank’s Investment Framework presented in Singapore today proposes raising $10 billion for conventional e

Analysis of "Bujagali II - Economic and Financial Evaluation Study - Final Reports" by Power Planning Associates

Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The stated purpose of the study by Power Planning Associates, which was commissioned by the World Bank Group, is to evaluate the economic viability of the proposed Bujagali project in Uganda, while taking into account the economic, financial, social, and environmental aspects. International Rivers asked economist Pete Tsournos to analyze the report against a few key questions.

World Bank Management Manipulated Data on Uganda Dam

Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Report shows Executive Board approved project on basis of distorted economic analysis In early June, the World Bank is expected to vote on a political risk guarantee for the Bujagali dam in Uganda. The Bank approved a package of loans and guarantees for the dam in December 2001, but this has proved insufficient to secure support from other funders. Analysis of internal documents by International Rivers shows that World Bank management manipulated data to gain Board approval for the project, which is sponsored by US–based AES Corporation. Contrary to Bank management claims, official document

Inter-American Development Bank

Father and son displaced by Cana Brava Dam, Brazil
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is the largest regional multilateral development bank in Latin America. Over the past decade, the IDB has approved $69 billion in loans, and has been a major driver of regional infrastructure integration programs, such as the Initiative for the Integration of Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA). The IDB has also been a consistent funder of large dams. The IDB’s environmental and social record is spotty, at best.

Review of Economic Impact Study: Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project

Friday, August 1, 1997
An independent review of the "Economic Impact Study of Nam Theun 2 Dam Project" prepared by Louis Berger International, Inc.

Consultant Reveals Financial Risks of Lao Dam: Nam Theun 2 Could Prove Liability for Lao Government

Tuesday, August 6, 1996
The Nam Theun 2 Dam in Laos is likely to cost significantly more and yield significantly lower revenues than claimed by its backers, reveals an economic analysis commissioned by International Rivers Network.1 The analysis was carried out by Dr. Wayne White, an engineer and hydropower expert who is a partner at US-based management and environment consultants SmithOBrien.2 The World Bank is currently considering whether to help subsidize the controversial dam. Using official project documents and World Bank reports, Dr White concludes:4 · Even using conservative assumptions in terms of interes

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