Sabancı was told to stop for the third time
The people's struggle against the solar power plant ( SPP ) project, owned by Enerjisa, a partnership of Sabancı Holding and German EON, in the Musalla Neighborhood, Sarnıç area of Çeşme district of İzmir, has been successfully concluded for the third time.
A public participation meeting was requested as part of the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. Local residents refused permission for the meeting, which was planned to be held at the Çeşme Sports Hall. Nearly 50 democratic mass organizations, led by the Çeşme Peninsula Association and the Çeşme City Council, attended the meeting and voiced their opposition.
Çeşme City Council President Dr. Ahmet Güler and attorneys Seher Gacar and Şehrazat Mercan emphasized that Çeşme is not alone, both socially and legally. The joint statement said, “Çeşme's natural protected areas, agricultural lands, and tourist areas cannot be concreted over under the guise of energy. Treasury lands cannot be handed over to corporations for profit. The people of Çeşme are protecting their own land, water, and nature.”
WE ARE AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF LIFEThe statement included the following: “The Ministry should not ignore this strong will of the people and declare the EIA process invalid. Any contrary action would be contrary not only to the law but also to the conscience of society. The meeting concluded peacefully under heavy security measures. We are not against renewable energy. However, we are against the destruction of Çeşme's most valuable tourism and agricultural lands, protected areas, and natural habitat. The real goal here is not energy, but land grabbing. The people of Çeşme have demonstrated once again that they are determined to protect their nature, agriculture, and future.”
ABOUT THE PROJECTThe 5.8-hectare area where the power plant will be located is designated as "afforestation area" in the Environmental Plan. Furthermore, all of these areas are agricultural land. The project area overlaps with areas designated as natural protected areas. Animal husbandry activities are also carried out in the area. Nearby settlements include Alaçatı, Musalla, and Ovacık. The solar power plant site is only 45 meters from some homes.
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