Orhaneli power station
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Orhaneli power station is an operating power station of at least 210-megawatts (MW) in Karıncalı, Orhaneli, Bursa, Türkiye.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Orhaneli power station | Karıncalı, Orhaneli, Bursa, Türkiye | 39.950224, 28.870214 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1: 39.950224, 28.870214
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: lignite[1] | 210 | subcritical | 1992 | False |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
The 210 MW coal plant was owned by Çelikler Holding[2] and was fuelled by adjacent lignite mines.[3]
In December 2025, Türkiye's Electricity Transmission Corporation released a list of coal- and gas-fired power stations that would qualify for a capacity mechanism in 2026. Orhaneli power station was included on the support list.[4]
Pollution allegations
In February 2018 a local MP asked for pollution complaints to be investigated.[5] In February 2019 the Right to Clean Air Platform-Turkey, a coalition of 17 professional organizations and NGOs, successfully campaigned to stop the Turkish Parliament from delaying proper air pollution filtration system and infrastructure requirements for old privatised coal plants until 2021, including Orhaneli.[6] The delay would have allowed Orhaneli to continue to operate without a modern dust, desulphurization and denitrification system.[7] [8] In November 2019 the Turkish Parliament approved the bill.[9] However on Dec. 2, 2019 President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vetoed the bill and said this veto was motivated by "environmental sensitivity".[10]
As a result, Orhaneli and other privatised coal power plants that have not completed the required infrastructure including filtration system must complete these requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2020 or these plants will face closure and/or fines.[11] In January 2020 the plant received a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating for six months despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[12] As of May 2020 the plant was operating with a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating until January 2021 despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[13] In May 2020 Greenpeace applied to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to shut down Orhaneli and eight other plants not in compliance with Environmental Law 2872 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the correlation between fine particulate pollution and higher mortality rates from Covid-19.[13][14] A July 2021 report by Climate Change Policy and Research Association found that the plant was still not in compliance with flue gas emissions standards but was continuing to operate as a result of obtaining a Temporary Activity Certificate (GFB).[15]
In August 2023, local residents continued to raise concerns over the "poison" released from Orhaneli power station. The community was reportedly facing high levels of respiratory illness and cancer.[16]
In July 2024, a Bursa politician submitted a request to the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding pollution and public health concerns surrounding Orhaneli power station and the use of chimney filters.[17]
In September 2024, it was repeatedly alleged that the power station was operating without a filter.[18] Çelikler Holding denied the allegation.[19]
In January 2025, Orhaneli power station was condemned by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality for lacking the proper operating license. It was the fourth time.[20] December 2024 reporting cited the alleged lack of air filtration as an additional reason.[21] A CHP Bursa Deputy submitted a question to be answered by the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change regarding the operational status of Orhaneli power station and ongoing pollution concerns.[22]
As of July 2025, the power station reportedly continued to operate illegally.[23]
In February 2026, it was clarified that the decision to "seal" Orhaneli power station was advisory rather than binding. Reporting argued that precedent should be established by the administration that industrial facilities must adhere to Public Ombudsman Institution decisions.[24]
Opposition and impact
In February 2024, workers from Orhaneli power station, Tunçbilek power station, and Seyitömer power station held a march advocating for fair wages.[25]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Çelikler Orhaneli Termik Santrali, company website, retrieved Jan. 2018.
- ↑ "Çelikler Holding, Bursa’da kömür ocağı işletecek", Enerji Günlüğü, 4 Oct. 2017.
- ↑ 2026’da 32 kömür ve gaz santraline kapasite desteği verilecek Kaynak: 2026’da 32 kömür ve gaz santrali kapasite desteğinden yararlanacak, Enerji Günlüğü, December 30, 2025
- ↑ "CHP'li Aydın: Orhaneli Termik Santrali zehir saçıyor", Hürriyet, 15 Feb. 2018.
- ↑ Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 15, 2019
- ↑ Communication with HEAL, December 2019
- ↑ Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 1, 2019.
- ↑ 50’inci madde kabul edildi, Yeşil Ekonomi, 22 Nov. 2019
- ↑ Erdoğan Vetoes Bill Postponing Installation of Filters to Coal-Fired Plants, Bianet, 02 December 2019.
- ↑ TBMM Plan Ve Bütçe Komisyonu, Santrallere Filtre Düzenlemesini Yeniden Görüştü, Meclis Haber, 4 December 2019.
- ↑ Anasayfa Gündem Haberleri Bakan Kurum'dan Bursa'yı da ilgilendiren termik santral açıklaması, Bursa Hakimiyet, Jan. 1, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Koronavirüs döneminde filtresiz termik santraller kapatılmalı, Cumhuriyet, May 22, 2020
- ↑ Isabelle Garretsen, How air pollution exacerbates Covid-19 BBC, Apr. 27, 2020
- ↑ Kömürlü termik santralleri çevreyi ve havayı kirletmeye devam ediyor, Sozcu, Jul. 7, 2021
- ↑ Bursa'da o holding çevreye zehir salıyor, Bursada Bugün, Aug. 4, 2023
- ↑ Kayıhan Pala: "Orhaneli Termik Santrali, bir gün bile bacasında filtre olmadan çalışmamalı", Anka Haber, July 4, 2024
- ↑ Bursa da termik santral ölüm kusuyor, Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi, September 18, 2024
- ↑ Bursa'da Orhaneli Termik Santrali hakkında şirketten açıklama, Bursada Bugün, September 19, 2024
- ↑ Orhaneli Termik Santrali 4. kez mühür kırdı, davalık oldu, T24, January 13, 2025
- ↑ Bursa'nın havasını zehirleyen Orhaneli Termik Santrali mühürlendi!, Bursa Hakimiyet, December 20, 2024
- ↑ CHP Bursa Milletvekili Orhan Sarıbal: "Orhaneli Termik Santrali halkı zehirlemeye devam etmektedir", Anka Haber Ajansi, January 17, 2025
- ↑ Bursa Barosu, Orhaneli Termik Santrali için Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu'na başvurdu, Evrensel, July 30, 2025
- ↑ Bursa’da çevre için iki önemli adım, Bursa Hakimiyet, February 27, 2026
- ↑ Kütahya'da termik santral işçileri eylem yaptı, Sonhaber, February 19, 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
