Turkey courts Chinese investment in coal-fired power

Turkey and China are in talks over a potential US$10 – 12 billion investment in the Afsin-Elbistan coalfield and power plant project in southern Turkey, the Turkish minister of energy has told Reuters. The Afsin-Elbistan region holds up to 45% of the country’s lignite reserves. The project would see the construction of an 8 GW coal-fired power plant there.

"This is a big project. We have to set up the Afsin-Elbistan field project correctly. We have a big store of information. We are working with China on this," the minister added but said that it was not possible to say when any deal may be signed.

"Turkey is aiming to reduce its imports of natural gas. In an interview last year [the minister] stated that major energy projects like these were belated targets, because none of the previous governments were in power long enough to sign and conduct these long-lasting energy projects," said Idil Bozoglu of law firm, Göksu Avukatl?k Bürosu. "It seems like discussions are getting to somewhere with China for today."

Edited from various sources by Jonathan Rowland

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