Turkey’s drive to expand a major coal plant is polluting its climate push
Smoke beside residents’ homes
Omer has worked at the Afşin-Elbistan plant for years and lives nearby. He says three of his brothers, who also worked there, have died: two from lung cancer and one from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“I believe working at this plant killed them,” Omer says. He also fears he will not live to 65. The names of residents interviewed have been changed, and some people declined to speak because the plant is now the area’s main employer.
Health concerns near the plant
More than a dozen nearby residents told The Independent they believe the plant is linked to widespread illness, including cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular problems. A local doctor, identified as Mehmet, described frequent coughs, breathing difficulties, mucus, high blood pressure and heart palpitations.
Mehmet said the number of cases, their occurrence among young people and their apparent concentration in the area stood out to him. He described the population as 140,000 and compared residents’ exposure to being made to smoke continuously.
Expansion plans face opposition
Plans to add two units to Afşin-Elbistan A would increase its capacity by 688MW, enough to supply an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 additional homes. The expansion was proposed two years after an earlier point in the project’s history, which the report does not specify.
Residents have opposed the plans, saying the plant has affected health, water supplies and farming. They also say thousands of people have moved away from the area.
Climate pledges under scrutiny
Turkey is hosting Cop31 in Antalya, with Australia set to lead formal negotiations under a power-sharing arrangement. Environment minister Kurum has described the summit as an “Implementation Cop” focused on electrification, waste reduction, climate finance and green industry, and set a voluntary goal for electricity to meet 35 per cent of energy needs by 2035.
Critics question Turkey’s climate credentials as it continues investing in oil, coal and gas without a credible phase-out plan. Climate Watch data cited in the report describes Turkey as highly dependent on coal; it also says Turkey is the only OECD member that has not banned permits for new coal plants.
Key points
- Omer says three brothers who worked at Afşin-Elbistan died from lung disease and cancer.
- Residents near the plant report health concerns and oppose plans to add two units.
- The proposed expansion would add 688MW of capacity.
- Turkey’s continued fossil-fuel investment is drawing scrutiny during Cop31.