March ,4th, 2008
It was made public that United States Export-Import Bank (US Ex-Im)
and British Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) that examined
the financing to the Sakhalin II second stage construction with
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) since 2003, stopped
the examination of the financing to this project on March 4 .
http://www.foejapan.org/aid/jbic02/sakhalin/press/20080304.html
The reason of their withdrawal is because the Sakhalin energy company
who is the entrepreneur withdrew the financing application. Nevertherless,
the underground reason is that, until today since the financing
examination began, protection of the natural Omenvironment of Sakhalin
II project and measures against the influence on the local society
were insufficient and that the standard of "Environment policy"
of both organizations were not able to be filled. For this reason,
it has continued that the judgment of the financing is postponed.
Examining the financing to the Sakhalin II seconde
stage construction now since two organizations pulled out became
only JBIC of Japan. On the other hand, the construction work is
completed by 90 percent as of February, 2008. The damage to the
environment that has been caused up to now is already a situation
that cannot be returned, and the landfall id occurring on the pipeline
route now.
On March 25th, 18 groups including FoE Japan sent
JBIC the letter to request to hold fast to the observance of the
standard "Environmental, social consideration guideline"
that JBIC had voluntarily installed.
English
original is here.