Turkey Discovers Vast Lignite Reserves in Central Anatolia

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Turkey has found 1.8 billion tons of lignite reserves in Konya-Karapinar, located in Central Anatolia, 200 miles south of capital city Ankara. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that the newly found field will be enough to fuel 5,000 megawatts (MW) of lignite-fired power plant for 40 years.

"The reserves were found after extensive research that was carried out over four years by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration the state's mining exploring unit," he said, according to the semi-official Anatolian News Agency.

"We have observed that this capacity might increase. We also plan to conduct reservoir work that would generate around 5,000 megawatts of electricity by doubling Ataturk Dam's generation." The minister also said they expected an investment value of between $7 billion and $8 billion.

"We keep walking in line with our strategies and main polices, which target enhancement of local and renewable energy resources in our country," Yildiz said. The ministry already took action to let the reserves contribute to the Turkish economy. He also said that the government plans to expand incentives programs to the energy sector, which uses local coal reserves.

In early January, the Turkish government signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) TAQA to develop lignite fields in Afsin-Elbistan and to build a new power plant. The existing 1,400-MW plant to be renovated is the Afsin-Elbistan B plant, which is operated by Elektrik Uretim As (EUAS) (Ankara, Turkey) and consists of four 360-MW units. For additional information on the agreement, see January 8, 2013, article - Turkey, UAE Sign $12 Billion Coal Plant Deal.

The Turkish economy is dependent on imported natural gas and oil and is sensitive to oil price volatility. Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said that every $10 surge in oil prices per barrel adds $4 billion to the annual current account deficit.

The Turkish government is trying to find new resources and uses for renewables, while the nuclear power plant project continues. The government wants to finish the selection process for the company, which will build the country's second nuclear plant, which will be located in Sinop.

According to figures from the Energy Ministry, Turkey generates 41.4% of the electricity from natural gas-powered plants, 27.4% from coal-powered plants, and 25.9% from hydroelectric. Turkey's total electricity generation capacity is 55,875 MW.

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