JBIC muddies comments on ending coal finance

(Reuters, Tokyo, 1 May 2020) Japan’s government, along with JBIC, has long been criticized for backing exports of coal-power technology and equipment by environmental groups as the world moves to cut emissions to combat climate change. However, JBIC Governor Tadashi Maeda was quoted as saying last week that the bank “will no longer accept loan applications for coal-fired power generation projects.” Nevertheless, Japan’s government-owned export credit agency said it has not changed its policy on financing coal power plants, muddying a message from the bank’s head that environmental groups had hailed as a major shift on the polluting fuel.

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