Minister Bayraktar: "Soma Thermal Power Plant will start operating again"

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that the Soma Thermal Power Plant will restart operations and continue with the new operator to be determined this month.

Minister Bayraktar inspected the Dereköy Mining Field in the Soma district of Manisa.

Making a statement to reporters later, Bayraktar said that domestic coal is a very important fuel for Türkiye's energy supply security.

Alparslan Bayraktar stated that there is an incentive program related to electricity production from domestic coal, that they have now created this program and will implement it this month.

Bayraktar stated that Soma is a very important place for Türkiye's energy, and said:

Turkey currently has an installed capacity of approximately 7,500 megawatts of electricity generated from domestic coal. We're talking about a significant area that directly contributes to employment for both our workers at these power plants and the 27,000 people employed in the mines. Of course, along with its side effects, we're in a very important area that appeals to tens of thousands of people, their families, and hundreds of thousands more. I'm talking about a purchasing program that will last until 2030. We're working on a purchasing guarantee of 7.5 cents for approximately 60% of the electricity generated by these power plants in Türkiye. We've reached the final phase of our program, and I believe this will ensure these power plants continue operating for a long time to come. Therefore, it's a very comprehensive incentive program. We've finalized it. Within this program, we're also incentivizing newly established coal-fired power plants.

Bayraktar explained that they are working on an incentive program related to the use of domestic coal in industry and explained the work in this context.

Bayraktar, stating that there are three exceptions to the incentive package, said, “One of those exceptions is that power plants that haven't made environmental investments will not be eligible for this incentive package. The second exception is that power plants that haven't paid their miners' and workers' wages will not be eligible. In other words, we will not allow operators who say, 'I'll generate electricity, sell it, and then pay the workers back with a 3-5-month delay,' to benefit from this incentive. Furthermore, companies that owe money to the public, especially our coal enterprises, TEİAŞ, and our energy companies, will be eligible for this incentive program after they pay off their debts. This is precisely the sensitive nature of the situation.”

Bayraktar stated that the incentive package is important and will provide a breathing space for the sector, and that it is a long-awaited program.

Bayraktar stated that it is crucial for Türkiye's domestic resources to be incorporated into the economy in a correct and environmentally friendly manner, emphasizing that Soma is the land of martyrs, a land that breaks everyone's heart.

“We will make the chimney of the Soma Power Plant smoke again.”

Bayraktar stated that there were some problems at the Soma Thermal Power Plant and that they were making the necessary evaluations regarding it.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar shared the following information:

This power plant is incredibly important for both supply security and reducing Türkiye's external dependency, but it's also incredibly vital for Soma. Approximately 13,000 people are directly employed here. Let me say this: God willing, we will get the Soma power plant working again. But it appears we will be making a change in the player in Soma. Unfortunately, the operator of the power plant in Soma did not demonstrate good management performance. They did not make the necessary investments in the power plant. Therefore, this power plant will continue on its path with a more professional operator. We will hopefully implement this decision and its implementation within this month, and with this new operator, Soma will, in a sense, continue on its path. Our citizens can rest assured.

AA