Turkey Expands Afsin-Elbistan Coal Plant
Analysis based on 9 articles · First reported Feb 19, 2026 · Last updated Feb 19, 2026
The planned expansion of the Afşin-Elbistan A Thermal Power Plant by Turkey, despite its net-zero goals and hosting Conference of the Parties, creates negative market sentiment for Turkey's environmental commitment and could impact investments in its energy sector. This decision also highlights the ongoing global tension between energy security and climate action, potentially affecting the broader fossil fuel market.
Turkey is planning to expand the Afşin-Elbistan A Thermal Power Plant, one of the country's most polluting coal-fired facilities, by adding two new units. This decision has sparked outrage among environmentalists and local residents, who highlight the severe health consequences, including an estimated 16,530 premature deaths linked to the plant's emissions. The expansion contradicts Turkey's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2053 and its role as host of the upcoming Conference of the Parties UN climate summit, where phasing out fossil fuels will be a key topic. Residents of Cogulhan village, located near the plant, report widespread illness and have largely fled due to the heavy pollution. Organizations like Greenpeace Turkey and the World Health Organization have criticized the move, emphasizing the paradox of Turkey's climate leadership claims versus its continued investment in coal.
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