AIIB Watch Cases

Status: Approved
Timeframe: 2017-2021
Area: China, Beijing

AIIB Investment Amount: US$ 250 million
Total Project Cost: US$ 761.10 million
Co-financier: Beijing Municipality: US$ 228.33 million; China CDM Fund: US$ 30 million; Beijing Gas: US$ 252.77 million

E&S Category: B

Project Details: The project is designed to improve air quality and reduce air pollution by replacing dirty coal with natural gas in the rural areas of Beijing (Coal-to-gas).

Project Concerns: The project is the AIIB’s first standalone project in China and raises serious concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and adherence to the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). Despite the ESF’s requirements, critical project information—such as Environmental and Social Assessments, consultation records, and detailed data on the 510 affected villages—has not been disclosed. The publicly available Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) contains only vague references to awareness-raising activities and lacks evidence of meaningful public consultations with affected communities. This raises doubts about whether those impacted were adequately informed or involved in the project planning process.

Moreover, the AIIB relies solely on the Client’s grievance mechanism, which is neither clearly described nor accessible to the public. Civil society requests for project information have been met with vague, dismissive responses.

CSO reports and organizations monitoring: NGO Forum in ADB: Concerns relating to the AIIB standalone Beijing Air Quality Improvement Project

AIIB interactions to date: Meetings of Eurozone constituency governments with NGOs on 1 June 2018 (Berlin) and 18 September 2018 (Vienna).

Further information: AIIB Page; Gender Action Scorecard

Last update: 09.04.2025