09 July 2026

Public pressure cancels Türkiye’s last coal project, only for the COP31 host to announce a bigger one

Istanbul, 9 July, 2026 — After years of legal challenges and protests, a Turkish court annulled yesterday the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the last longstanding coal unit project in Türkiye, Afşin-Elbistan A 688 MW [1].

This decision brings Türkiye’s coal project cancellations rate to 97 percent—a global record. Since 2016, 86 proposed coal projects totaling 75 GW of capacity (over three times Türkiye’s existing capacity) have been cancelled due to strong local opposition, environmental concerns, or lack of financial viability [2].

The municipalities of Elbistan and Nurhak, together with the Turkish Medical Association, TEMA Foundation, Greenpeace Türkiye, and local residents, filed the lawsuit against the proposed construction of two additional units (688 MW) at the power station Afşin-Elbistan A, in response to the plant’s most recently approved EIA. The Kahramanmaraş Administrative Court did not find the positive EIA decision to be in the public interest [3].

Over the past decade, European countries have drastically reduced new coal plant projects as coal power has become both financially and environmentally untenable. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only other European country with active coal projects, Gacko II and Ugljevik III. Both are unlikely to find financing and neither is mentioned in the country’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan [4].

Despite this achievement, the Turkish government and host of COP31 announced the expansion of the Cenal Coal Power Plant in June 2026 [5]. The imported coal-fired power plant operated by Cenal Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. currently has an installed capacity of 1,320 MW. The company will add a new 1,050 MW unit to the plant, thereby increasing its total installed capacity to 2,370 MW. As with Afşin-Elbistan, the expansion is likely to face public and legal opposition. While COP31 President and Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, speaks of “making clean electricity the backbone of economies and societies’ and ‘accelerating decarbonisation”, 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.

Duygu Kutluay, Campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels said:

“The COP31 presidency is an opportunity for Türkiye to demonstrate real climate leadership, but so far it’s coming up short. It is indefensible that the Turkish government has no plan to fully phase out coal and is, in fact, expanding coal power while the rest of Europe leaves it behind. Decision-makers must stop wasting public resources on declining fossil fuel industries. Türkiye needs to take its presidency seriously, plan a fair coal phase-out and prioritise its vast renewable energy potential. By investing in solar, wind, and clean flexibility solutions, the country can protect communities, create more sustainable jobs, and flourish as an energy transition leader.”

Kasia Szeniawska, Campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels said:

“Türkiye’s coal project failure rate is the final nail in Europe’s coal coffin. Coal power is finished: it’s financially risky, increases costs for billpayers, harms people’s health, and sabotages climate goals. Any attempt to subsidise new coal plants is burning cash. Choosing to move past coal and prioritise renewable energy and flexibility solutions, will make Türkiye more resilient and support Europe’s transition to a cleaner and economically-sound energy future.”

Mehmet Dalkanat, Afşin Elbistan Platform for the Protection of Life and Nature said:

“For years, we have been fighting for clean air, fertile soil, and the future of our children. This court ruling is a victory for the people of Afşin and Elbistan, who have stood firm despite all obstacles. What makes us strong is our love for this land. We have stopped power plant projects for the fourth time—now it’s time to ensure that all existing coal plants are shut down through a just transition that protects both people and nature.”

END

Contacts

Duygu Kutluay, Campaigner, Beyond Fossil Fuels, duygu.kutluay@bff.earth

Kasia Szeniawska, Campaigner, Beyond Fossil Fuels, kasia.szeniawska@bff.earth

Nilay Vardar, Communications Manager, Beyond Fossil Fuels, nilay.vardar@bff.earth

Notes

Public pressure cancels Türkiye’s last coal project, only for the COP31 host to announce a bigger one

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