‘Victory’ as Türkiye ends major coal plant expansion – but still lacks phaseout plan

Environmental activists in Türkiye have declared a “victory for the people” after the expansion of the country’s largest coal-fired power plant was struck down by a court ruling.

Local residents joined Greenpeace Türkiye in fighting the construction of two additional units at the Afşin-Elbistan A Thermal Power Plant in the southeastern Kahramanmaraş Province.

Their lawsuit complained of the potential impacts of the expansion on human health, agricultural lands, water resources and local ecosystems.

Last week (8 July), the court revoked the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) granted to the project in late 2024, concluding that “the potential negative environmental impacts of the project cannot be demonstrated to be at acceptable levels”.

“For years, we have been fighting for clean air, fertile land, and the future of our children. This court decision is a victory for the people of Afşin and Elbistan,” says Mehmet Dalkanat from the Afşin Elbistan Life and Nature Protection Platform, which fought alongside Greenpeace.

“Now it is time to ensure the closure of all existing coal power plants through a fair transition process that protects both people and nature.”

Can Türkiye end its coal addiction?

The 688 MW Afşin-Elbistan expansion was one of just two active coal plant proposals in Türkiye, down from 95 proposed units representing 57.5 GW in 2015. The decision brings the cancellation rate for proposed coal projects in the country to 97 per cent – a global record.

Yet the country still lacks a national coal phaseout plan. The other project still in the pipeline – a 1,050 MW expansion of the 1,320 MW Cenal Coal Power Plant –

was just announced in June, despite Turkiye’s upcoming role as co-host of the UN’s COP31 climate summit in November.

“Expanding coal power is incompatible with hosting the world’s largest climate summit and sends the message that climate action is not being taken seriously,” says campaign group Beyond Fossil Fuels.

Coal remains an important part of Türkiye’s power mix, accounting for nearly one-third of electricity generation.

The country’s 20.5 GW operating coal fleet has an average plant age of 24 years and no known planned retirement dates, CAN Europe warns in its ‘Boom and Bust Coal 2026’ report.

Türkiye produces more coal-fired terawatt-hours than any European country and its generation has not yet peaked, it adds. Policy support for coal in the country is propping up the industry, including a guaranteed-rate power purchase plan for coal plants through 2030, announced last September.

Türkiye’s coal project ‘not in the public interest’

The Afşin-Elbistan expansion was stalled throughout 2025 as litigation was underway. Last September, a court-appointed expert committee compiled a report on the negative impacts of the project, concluding that it was not in the public interest.

It found that necessary assessments were not conducted, mining license information was outdated, cumulative impacts on groundwater were not studied, and the livelihoods and cultural values of the local community were threatened.

In particular, public health risks, especially for vulnerable groups, had not been properly considered.

Elsewhere, some Turkish coal plants have been accused of operating without proper filtration systems, while inefficient plants emit high levels of CO2 and air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.

Opposition to the country’s coal sector continues to grow, with civil society organisations warning that separate plans to expand coal mining to supply the southwest could threaten olive groves, residential areas and cultural sites.

Could renewables offer a brighter future for Türkiye?

Reallocation of coal subsidies toward clean energy and grid modernisation would better support energy and job security in coal-dependent regions, CAN Europe argues.

As financing and subsidies for coal wane, jobs in the sector are disappearing. At the same time, the cost of generating coal-fired electricity is rising.

Renewables, on the other hand, are becoming progressively cheaper: the cost of solar and wind production has dropped by 69 per cent and 40 per cent respectively in the country over the last decade, according to CAN Europe.

A report published by Greenpeace Türkiye in May 2025 suggests that renewable energy investments could create thousands of new jobs in the Afşin-Elbistan region alone.

Türkiye is one-third of the way to reaching its renewable energy capacity target of 120 GW by 2035, according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

“At this critical juncture, Türkiye can use its moment as COP host and president to establish an energy transition pathway that meets its existing renewable energy targets, supports communities impacted by pollution, and transitions its workforce toward a coal-free future,” says CAN Europe.