Untied Loan Guarantees (UFK-Guarantees) are a central pillar of the German raw materials strategy, intended to secure long-term access to raw materials for German companies by relieving banks of risks. In at least four of the thirteen loan guarantees awarded by the German Government since 2009, there is publicly documented evidence or complaints regarding environmental risks and/or human rights violations. This session will highlight the case of the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistan’s conflict-ridden Balochistan province, which is supported by some of the biggest public development banks. A UFK-Guarantee was approved in 2025.
Located in an intensely militarised region, where civic space is extremely repressed, the Reko Diq mine risks exacerbating social tensions, attacks against peaceful activists, water scarcity and further environmental harm. Indigenous Baloch communities have voiced clear opposition to the project, viewing it as exploitation of their resources for the benefit of Islamabad. The project has been subjected to attacks, including abductions and a suicide bombing. This has further increased the militarisation and deterioration of the security situation, which led the mining company to suspend the project pending a "security assessment".
By highlighting these and other issues around the project, the session will :
- ask about UFK checks and balances in light of such a project being able to slip through the cracks.
- discuss the options for Germany around this and similar projects, especially in terms of mitigating further risks and exploring the need for a possible responsible exit.
Speakers:
- Abdullah Abbas, Human Rights Council of Balochistan
- Vanessa Fischer, PowerShift
Moderation: Tala Batangan, Coalition for Human Rights in Development
Organisers: Human Rights Council of Balochistan, Coalition for Human Rights in Development, Brot für die Welt, PowerShift
Format: Webinar
Language: English
Date and time: October 2, 2026, 10AM - 11:30AM (CEST)
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