Infrastructure

Low angle view of electricity pylon against sky. Credit: Uva Rova / pexels.com

Infrastructure

News

World Bank’s Mission 300: a path to power, for whom?

Bank's focus on attracting private investment through energy privatisation raises concerns, as it puts private profits over sustainable energy systems, burdening governments with debt and making electricity less affordable for citizens.

12 December 2024
Santa Cruz road corridor connector along the Miraflores indigenous community territory, Bolivia. Credit: Fundacion Tierra

Accountability

News

World Bank’s lack of meaningful consultation leaves Chiquitano Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia with no recourse

World Bank fails in its commitment to accountability by disregarding communities’ participation all the way through project design, implementation and resulting remedy plans.

16 October 2024

Environment

News

Trump election may add pressure to reverse World Bank’s prohibition on support for nuclear power

Donald Trump’s election may result in a revision of World Bank’s long-standing prohibition of support to nuclear power.

12 December 2024

Infrastructure

News

Banga calls energy access a ‘human right’ as he announces World Bank will provide access for 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030

Explicit mention of human rights obligations has long been a taboo subject at the World Bank.

3 July 2024

Infrastructure

News

Indonesia JETP's promotion of renewable energy privatisation opposed by unions and civil society

Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership bears the clear handprint of the World Bank’s private-sector led approach to power sectors in the Global South, creating opposition from unions and civil society.

9 April 2024
Suralaya Power Station, Indonesia. Credit: Melvinas Priananda, Trend Asia.

Environment

Analysis

Coal not yet confined to the “old days” by World Bank Group

Despite the World Bank’s commitment to move away from funding coal, a series of loopholes in its financial intermediary lending remain that will continue to allow finance to support coal power projects.

13 December 2023 | At Issue

Infrastructure

News

MIGA’s support for gas projects raises concerns about its climate credentials

World Bank’s commercial insurance arm provided nearly $850 million in guarantees for gas projects in Bangladesh and Mozambique in fiscal year 2022.

5 April 2023

Finance

News

Chad gets debt rescheduling, not relief, and is left dependent on oil revenues

Chad has reached an agreement to restructure its nearly $3 billion of external debt, unlocking IMF financing, but the deal has been criticised for failing to reduce the country’s overall debt burden.

8 December 2022

Infrastructure

Analysis

World Bank and IMF influence casts shadow over South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership

World Bank’s support for fossil fuel projects, including problem-riddled Medupi coal power station, leaves its reputation in tatters with South African civil society.

8 December 2022

Environment

News

World Bank’s update on Paris alignment fizzles at COP27 as countries demand MDBs evolve to face climate emergency

Despite continued public rhetoric about importance of civil society engagement, Bank is yet to commit to holding a public consultation period on its Paris alignment approach.

8 December 2022