Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant Privatized for 20 Billion TL Amidst Mounting Criticism

Ankara - The privatization process of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant, located in Ankara's Nallıhan district, has been completed with the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The plant, along with its associated assets, has been transferred to Akçadağ İnşaat for 20 billion TL, a figure experts claim is significantly below its true market value, sparking public debate.

The privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant, previously affiliated with Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. (EÜAŞ), marks a new phase for the energy facility. The decision, published in the Official Gazette under President Erdoğan's signature, stipulates the transfer of the power plant and its connected immovables to Akçadağ İnşaat Enerji Madencilik A.Ş. for a total of 20 billion TL.

The sale encompasses not only the thermal power plant itself but also the Çayırhan Lignite Enterprise, owned by EÜAŞ, and the real estate properties belonging to both the Treasury and EÜAŞ used by these operations. Crucially, the operating rights for mining licenses numbered 23405 and 30963, covering the coal fields that feed the plant, will also be transferred to Akçadağ İnşaat.

The privatization process, overseen by the Privatization Administration (Özelleştirme İdaresi Başkanlığı), includes contingency plans. Should Akçadağ İnşaat, as the highest bidder, fail to fulfill its obligations, the rights to the tender will be transferred to the second-highest bidder, the joint venture of Aslan Yapı and Thirty Five, with an offer of 19.9 billion TL. If this consortium also fails to meet the terms, the tender will be canceled.

Strong Reactions and Allegations of Public Loss

The privatization has been met with significant controversy. The Chamber of Mining Engineers (TMMOB Maden Mühendisleri Odası) has been vocal in its opposition, asserting that the actual value of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant is approximately 80 billion TL. This assessment suggests a potential public loss of 60 billion TL, reigniting concerns about the transparency and fairness of public asset transfers.

Furthermore, the workers employed at the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant have a history of robust resistance against the privatization. They previously staged protests for days, including demonstrations in front of the ministry building in Ankara, driven by fears that their hard-won rights, which they had lost in previous privatization attempts, would once again be jeopardized.

The Çayırhan privatization stands as a significant case, rekindling a critical public debate in Türkiye concerning national energy policies and the ongoing transfer of state-owned assets to the private sector.

Source: evrensel.net | Photo: Anka