Orhaneli power station
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Orhaneli power station is an operating power station of at least 210-megawatts (MW) in Karıncalı, Orhaneli, Bursa, Türkiye.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Orhaneli power station | Karıncalı, Orhaneli, Bursa, Türkiye | 39.950224, 28.870214 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1: 39.950224, 28.870214
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal: lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1992 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Bursa coal mines (Orhaneli)
Background
The 210 MW coal plant is owned by Çelikler Holding[1] and is fuelled by adjacent lignite mines.[2]
Pollution allegations
In February 2018 a local MP asked for pollution complaints to be investigated.[3] In February 2019 the Right to Clean Air Platform-Turkey, a coalition of 17 professional organizations and NGOs, successfully campaigned to stop the Turkish Parliament from delaying proper air pollution filtration system and infrastructure requirements for old privatised coal plants until 2021, including Orhaneli.[4] The delay would have allowed Orhaneli to continue to operate without a modern dust, desulphurization and denitrification system.[5] [6] In November 2019 the Turkish Parliament approved the bill.[7] However on Dec. 2, 2019 President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vetoed the bill and said this veto was motivated by "environmental sensitivity".[8]
As a result, Orhaneli and other privatised coal power plants that have not completed the required infrastructure including filtration system must complete these requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2020 or these plants will face closure and/or fines.[9] In January 2020 the plant received a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating for six months despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[10] As of May 2020 the plant was operating with a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating until January 2021 despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[11] In May 2020 Greenpeace applied to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to shut down Orhaneli and eight other plants not in compliance with Environmental Law 2872 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the correlation between fine particulate pollution and higher mortality rates from Covid-19.[11][12] A July 2021 report by Climate Change Policy and Research Association found that the plant was still not in compliance with flue gas emissions standards but was continuing to operate as a result of obtaining a Temporary Activity Certificate (GFB).[13]
In August 2023, local residents continued to raise concerns over the "poison" released from Orhaneli power station. The community was reportedly facing high levels of respiratory illness and cancer.[14]
In July 2024, a Bursa politician submitted a request to the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding pollution and public health concerns surrounding Orhaneli power station and the use of chimney filters.[15]
In September 2024, it was repeatedly alleged that the power station was operating without a filter.[16] Çelikler Holding denied the allegation.[17]
Opposition and impact
In February 2024, workers from Orhaneli power station, Tunçbilek power station, and Seyitömer power station held a march advocating for fair wages.[18]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Çelikler Orhaneli Termik Santrali, company website, retrieved Jan. 2018.
- ↑ "Çelikler Holding, Bursa’da kömür ocağı işletecek", Enerji Günlüğü, 4 Oct. 2017.
- ↑ "CHP'li Aydın: Orhaneli Termik Santrali zehir saçıyor", Hürriyet, 15 Feb. 2018.
- ↑ Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 15, 2019
- ↑ Communication with HEAL, December 2019
- ↑ Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 1, 2019.
- ↑ 50’inci madde kabul edildi, Yeşil Ekonomi, 22 Nov. 2019
- ↑ Erdoğan Vetoes Bill Postponing Installation of Filters to Coal-Fired Plants, Bianet, 02 December 2019.
- ↑ TBMM Plan Ve Bütçe Komisyonu, Santrallere Filtre Düzenlemesini Yeniden Görüştü, Meclis Haber, 4 December 2019.
- ↑ Anasayfa Gündem Haberleri Bakan Kurum'dan Bursa'yı da ilgilendiren termik santral açıklaması, Bursa Hakimiyet, Jan. 1, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Koronavirüs döneminde filtresiz termik santraller kapatılmalı, Cumhuriyet, May 22, 2020
- ↑ Isabelle Garretsen, How air pollution exacerbates Covid-19 BBC, Apr. 27, 2020
- ↑ Kömürlü termik santralleri çevreyi ve havayı kirletmeye devam ediyor, Sozcu, Jul. 7, 2021
- ↑ Bursa'da o holding çevreye zehir salıyor, Bursada Bugün, Aug. 4, 2023
- ↑ Kayıhan Pala: "Orhaneli Termik Santrali, bir gün bile bacasında filtre olmadan çalışmamalı", Anka Haber, July 4, 2024
- ↑ Bursa da termik santral ölüm kusuyor, Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi, September 18, 2024
- ↑ Bursa'da Orhaneli Termik Santrali hakkında şirketten açıklama, Bursada Bugün, September 19, 2024
- ↑ Kütahya'da termik santral işçileri eylem yaptı, Sonhaber, February 19, 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
