Japanese Groups Strongly Object to JBIC Premature Loan Disbursement, Ingoring Upcoming Community Lawsuit

(FOE Japan, Tokyo, 14 November 2017) On November 14, The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) disbursed the first installment of a loan for the 1000 MW Cirebon coal-fired power plant expansion plan which Marubeni and JERA invested in, known as Cirebon 2. The total loan amount JBIC has signed in the loan agreement is around USD 731 million. However, the validity of the new environment permit, which has only recently been issued, is still in question. The local community and NGO groups, which are opposing the project, are preparing to file an administrative lawsuit next week, demanding the revocation of the new environment permit. This would make it impossible for the Cirebon 2 project to violate the laws of the host country (Indonesia) and the “JBIC Guidelines for Confirmation of Environmental and Social Considerations”. This disrepectful JBIC neglect of the lawsuit by local residents is a repeat of its conclusion of the loan agreement without an adequate EIA. JBIC had a meeting with the local community and NGO groups in Indonesia last October and directly heard their concerns and the judicial risks. Nevertheless, JBIC decided to disburse the loan and just push through with the project ignoring their concerns.

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