Soma power station
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Soma power station is an operating power station of at least 990-megawatts (MW) in Soma, Manisa, Türkiye. It is also known as Soma B.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Soma power station | Soma, Soma, Manisa, Türkiye | 39.194462, 27.635204 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase B Unit 1, Phase B Unit 2, Phase B Unit 3, Phase B Unit 4, Phase B Unit 5, Phase B Unit 6: 39.194462, 27.635204
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase B Unit 1 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1981 |
| Phase B Unit 2 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1982 |
| Phase B Unit 3 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1985 |
| Phase B Unit 4 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1986 |
| Phase B Unit 5 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1991 |
| Phase B Unit 6 | operating | coal: lignite | 165 | subcritical | 1992 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Phase B Unit 1 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
| Phase B Unit 2 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
| Phase B Unit 3 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
| Phase B Unit 4 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
| Phase B Unit 5 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
| Phase B Unit 6 | Soma Termik Santral Elektrik Uretim AŞ [100%] | Anadolu Birlik Holding AŞ [54.4%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Aegean lignite mines (Soma, Denis)
Background
The six 165-MW coal-fired units of the plant were completed between 1981 and 1992. Lignite for the plant is supplied by Ege Linyitleri İşletmesi. The plant has been owned by Konya Şeker Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. since 2015.[1]
Soma power station reportedly operated significantly below its maximum production levels in 2023.[2]
In May 2024, Soma power station was described as being in a "sale phase", and employees of the power station and the associated mine were concerned about management decisions and employment stability.[3]
Capacity Payments
In 2018 the company was paid millions of lira by the government in support of its coal-fired plant via the capacity mechanism.[4]
Environmental and public health impact
In February 2019 the Right to Clean Air Platform, a coalition of 17 professional organizations and NGOs, successfully campaigned to stop the Turkish Parliament from delaying stronger air pollution requirements for old coal plants from 2019 until 2021.[5] The delay would have allowed Soma to continue to operate without a desulphurization system or modernised dust filters.[6]
In January 2020 two units of the plant were closed under Environmental Law 2872 for failing to install a more effective air filtration system, in addition to five plants that were entirely closed: Afşin-Elbistan A, Kütahya Seyitömer, Tunçbilek Çelikler, Sivas Kangal and Zonguldak Çatalağzı.[7][8] As of June 2021 Unit 2 had resumed operating having installed a new air filtration system.[9] According to CAN Europe Units 1 had resumed operating as of December 2021.[10]
In November 2023, a Manisa Deputy politician stated that 39,000 people had died from cancer associated with pollution from Soma power station.[11] He also alleged that a series of work accidents and fires had occurred at the power station, and the flue duct filters posed a serious risk of causing an explosion.[12]
In February 2024, a malfunction at Soma power station caused a heating problem in Manisa. The power station was reportedly penalized for the incident.[13]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Soma Termik Santrali, company website, retrieved Jan. 2018.
- ↑ Konya Şeker'e Kangal ve Soma'da eksik elektrik üretmenin faturası ağır oldu! 5.3 milyar lira gelirden mahrum kaldı!, Türkiye'nin Tarım Sitesi, February 23, 2024
- ↑ 20 BİN İŞÇİ VE SOMA’NINGELECEĞİ TEHLİKE ALTINDA, Soma Yeni Haber Gazetesi, May 8, 2024
- ↑ "KAPASİTE MEKANİZMASI OCAK AYI FATURAYA ESAS ÖDEME LİSTESİ", TEIAS website, accessed May 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
- ↑ Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 1, 2019
- ↑ 5 thermal power plants that did not install filters and did not take flue gas treatment measures were completely closed, BBC, Jan. 2, 2020
- ↑ Filtre taktırmayan termik santraller kapatıldı, Deutsche Welle, Feb. 1, 2020
- ↑ Seffaflik Platformu, Exist, accessed July 2021
- ↑ Communication with CAN Europe, January 2022
- ↑ Soma bu kez de termik santral tehdidiyle karşı karşıya!, Antakya Gazetesi, Nov. 19, 2023
- ↑ Soma'da 'ikinci facia' uyarısı, Sözcü Gazetesi, Nov. 18, 2023
- ↑ Soma'da ısıtma sorunu! Termik santrale ceza! Manisa Kulis Haber, February 26, 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.
