Türkiye has called off plans for three coal plants in 2024 but remains the only country within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that has failed to commit to a ban on permits for new coal plants, according to the latest data from Global Energy Monitor.
Data in the Global Coal Plant Tracker updated in the third quarter of 2024 show that the licenses for two coal plants — Karaburun and Kirazlıdere — were canceled due to irregularities in the environmental permitting process. Another plant, Malkara, was shelved due to a lack of activity.
The developments have left Türkiye with just one coal plant proposal — an expansion of the sizable Afşin-Elbistan power station complex in the city of Kahramanmaraş — a remarkable development after being among the top ten countries with proposed coal-powered capacity for nearly a decade.
Since 2015 over 70 gigawatts (GW) of planned coal plant capacity in Türkiye has been called off, one of the highest rates in the world. In comparison, less than 6 GW of coal power capacity was brought online over the same timeframe.
Still, Türkiye is the only OECD member that is actively pursuing new coal plants without plans to lessen, or “abate,” the plant’s emissions through the use of carbon capture and storage technology (CCS). Of the thirteen OECD countries with coal plant proposals since 2015, all but Türkiye have pledged to stop building new, unabated coal plants.
Proposed coal-fired capacity in the OECD has fallen from 142 proposals totaling 111 GW to five proposals totaling 3 GW since 2015, and none of the five proposals have the necessary permits for construction. All but Türkiye’s proposal include plans to adopt CCS.
Coal plant proposals in Türkiye face a myriad of challenges, including strong public opposition and domestic lignite coal that is low-quality and unreliable, leading many plants to use higher-cost imported coal instead.
Despite the setbacks, Türkiye has not committed to ending new coal plant proposals. Its recently updated climate pledge, submitted during COP29, makes no mention of coal phaseout.
Christine Sheerer, Project Manager for the Global Coal Plant Tracker at Global Energy Monitor, said, “The time is ripe for the country’s leadership to join the rest of the OECD in committing to no new coal and embracing a clean energy future for its people. With only one coal plant proposal remaining in Türkiye, a coal-free future is visible on the horizon.”
Contact
Christiner Sheerer, Project Manager, Global Coal Plant Tracker, Global Energy MonitorEmail: [email protected]