Turkish energy sector undergoes transformation

The total cost of tenders is expected to amount to $2.1 billion. As of now, TL 542 million has been spent on the modernization of 386 of the country’s 565 electrical power plants. In line with the Kyoto Protocol, the ministry is planning to finish upgrading thermal power plants by 2013 and hydroelectric plants by 2014. Also on the agenda in 2010 will be a new tender for the construction of nuclear power plants.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources prepared a detailed report on Turkey’s energy potential and on the nature of this potential prior to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Today’s Zaman has obtained a copy of the report, which thoroughly explains the steps Turkey is taking to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. The report contains information on thermal power plants, which play a leading role in carbon dioxide emissions. Explaining the projects Turkey has implemented to shift to clean energy, the report includes a special section on the rehabilitation of the country’s 565 thermal and hydroelectric power plants.

According to the report, Turkey has allocated $2.67 billion to energy rehabilitation since 2005, and 46 new thermal power plants that were constructed between 2008 and 2009 are being updated within the scope of the rehabilitation project. There are also plans to install a system that operates on natural gas in these power plants. According to ministry data, there are currently 37 thermal power plants in Turkey and 172 hydroelectric power plants, and an additional 258 hydroelectric power plants are under construction.

Capacity increase

The report notes that the Electricity Generation Holding Company (EÜAŞ) is expected to generate 90.2 billion kilowatt-hours by the end of the year.

The rehabilitation work on the Hamitabat natural gas combined cycle power plant’s two gas turbines is expected to be finished by the end of 2010. The transformation of the Hamitabat plant’s gas turbines into a double-fuel system (natural gas-diesel) was contracted out for 14.6 million euros, and the project is expected to be finished in 2010.

The report mentioned that in additional to thermal plants, hydroelectric plants are also key to increasing the production of environmentally friendly energy. It also noted that an agreement was signed in April with the state-owned Turkish Electromechanics Industry (TEMSAN) to increase the efficiency of the Keban hydroelectric power plant, which has been in service for 30 years, and to increase installed capacity for 50.3 million euros. The project is expected to be completed within five years.

The report also refers to the Afşin Elbistan-B thermal power plant. A 25-year contract tender on the plant was cancelled after the offers that were made by two companies were deemed insufficient. According to the report, the ministry will reopen the project for bids in 2010. The rehabilitation of the Kangal thermal power plant’s first and second units will be finished by the end of the month.

Large companies keep eye on nuclear power plants

Another project that will attract the interest of energy giants is a pending nuclear power plant tender.

The Turkish-Russian partnership Atomstroyexport-Inter RAO-Park Teknik had won the tender for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Akkuyu region of Mersin. But the tender was cancelled on Nov. 20 because they were the only bidder. The construction of a power plant in Akkuyu and a second nuclear power plant in Sinop will be opened for bids in early 2010. Bidding for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant was originally announced in 1996, but the tender was delayed when the offers of US-Japanese consortium Westinghouse-Mitsubishi, Canadian AECL and German-French partnership NPI were deemed too expensive.

Delaying the tender again has ruined the plans of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, which had counted on using nuclear energy by 2012. The ministry wants the new tender to be held as soon as possible in order to fill the energy gap.

$3 billion share

The ministry will also launch tenders to upgrade the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company’s (TEİAŞ) power lines in 2010. TEİAŞ, which increased its 43,000 kilometers of electrical power lines to 46,974 kilometers this year, will invite bids for the construction of 98 380-kilowatt power lines is there , which will cost around TL 1.8 billion, and the construction of 282 154-kilowatt lines, which will cost around TL 1.4 billion.