Follow the Money / Campaigns

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been an enthusiastic supporter of hydropower, large irrigation and other infrastructure projects in Asia for decades. This trend is poised to continue, with more than US$900 million

Export credit agencies provide government credits and guarantees for private export contracts such as turbines and other machinery. Export credit agencies from industrialized countries have funded large dams for many decades. In recent years, agencies from developing countries such as China, Brazil, Thailand and India have joined them. Many export

The World Bank has traditionally been the most important financier of large dams. Since its creation in 1944, the Bank has funded approximately 600 dams. With projects such as Chixoy, Kariba and Sardar Sarovar, these dams have included some of the world's most appalling development disasters.

 
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Private banks and investors play an important role in financing the construction of dams. Private bank loans are often a necessary complement to the public funding usually needed to build large dams. Since many dam-building companies and governments are dependent on the financial services of private banks, these financial institutions often play a key role in dam deals.