"Considering the fact that three of the four experts who reviewed the environmental impact study have concluded that the study should be rejected, we believe that the government must listen to the opinion of citizens and independent professionals. It is well known that former Environment Minister Mirela Holy opposed the implementation of this project and that the whole scandal that led to her resignation erupted at this crucial time for the future of the Ombla project," the NGOs said in a joint statement.

"If the government adopts a political decision on the acceptability of the project despite the clear position of citizens and independent experts that the project should be stopped, it will effectively support the claims that the whole scandal was fabricated with the aim of forcing the minister to resign," the statement said, adding that "ignoring the negative opinion of the public and experts about the construction of the Ombla hydroelectric power plant is a sign of extreme arrogance and violence."

The NGOs said it was beyond dispute that investments in the energy sector were necessary, but stressed that the first step should be directed at reducing electricity losses in the distribution system and in residential buildings by installing solar panels and photovoltaic cells.

"Although such investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are very effective, they are not to the advantage of the construction lobby because there is no construction of big plants and damns, and the ownership and profit are not centralised. This is probably the reason why aggressive individuals in the government do not support effective solutions, but the construction of large hydroelectric power plants," the statement concluded.