Turkey Expands Coal Plant Amid Climate Summit Preparations

Turkey’s controversial decision to expand the Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired power plant has raised significant concerns as the country prepares to host the COP31 UN climate summit in November 2024. The plant, located in Kahramanmaras Province, is among the most polluting facilities in Turkey, generating 2,795 megawatts of power from lignite, or brown coal. Despite the environmental ramifications, the government plans to add two new units to the already massive complex.

Residents in the nearby village of Cogulhan, such as Kaddafi Polat, express deep concern for their health and the wellbeing of their children. “In the mornings, when the school bus comes, dust rises everywhere,” said Polat, a father of three. He witnesses the fine dust settle on cars and clothing, blanketing the village in a grey film. The pollution from the Afsin-Elbistan plant has led to a significant decline in the local population, with many fleeing the area due to health concerns.

Environmental Impact and Health Risks

Environmentalists have linked the emissions from the Afsin-Elbistan plant to an estimated 16,530 premature deaths each year, primarily due to particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. The expansion plans could potentially result in an additional 2,268 deaths and impose health costs of 88.4 billion lira (approximately $2.6 billion), even with upgraded filtration technology. Activists argue that this initiative contradicts Turkey’s stated goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2053.

Turkey’s Environment Minister, Murat Kurum, attempted to downplay the significance of the expansion in relation to the COP31 summit. “We cannot reduce the matter solely to fossil fuels,” he stated at a press conference. However, critics like Emel Turker Alpay from Greenpeace Turkey argue that it is a paradox for Turkey to claim leadership in climate initiatives while simultaneously expanding fossil fuel investments.

Local health experts, including Lutfi Tiyekli, chair of the Kahramanmaras doctors’ association, emphasize the dire need for the government to prioritize public health over energy production. “We are knowingly sacrificing people here to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma,” Tiyekli remarked.

Community Concerns and Air Quality Issues

The air quality in the Elbistan district remains critically poor, exceeding both World Health Organization (WHO) and Turkish safety thresholds. According to Deniz Gumusel of the Right to Clean Air Platform, the annual levels of PM10 particulate matter should not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic meter. However, Elbistan’s levels have reached as high as three times that limit, with an average of 128.3 micrograms per cubic meter last year—over eight times the WHO guideline.

Local activist Mehmet Dalkanat has witnessed the devastating effects of pollution firsthand. “There isn’t a single household in this village without cancer,” he lamented, noting that the health crisis is widespread. His son, Ali Dalkanat, who previously worked at the plant, left due to severe bronchitis. “Had I kept working there, my health would have taken an irreversible path,” he stated.

As the community grapples with the implications of the power plant’s expansion, many residents feel abandoned. “If they expand this plant, we’ll all die,” expressed Eyup Kisa, a 62-year-old local. The ash that falls continuously on the village is a stark reminder of the pollution they live with daily.

With the COP31 summit approaching, Turkey faces a critical challenge: balancing its energy demands with the health of its citizens and environmental commitments. The decisions made in the coming months will not only impact local communities but will also shape Turkey’s role in global climate discussions.