Six thermal plants sealed off for failing to install filters

Six fossil fuel plants – five completely and one partially – have been sealed off for failing to install stack filters, Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said. The plants were held accountable for failure to comply with the preventative measures that were finalized when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vetoed a bill that proposed to postpone the installation of stack filters in 15 plants for two and a half years.

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A total of six fuel plant have been sealed off for failing to install filters in their stacks for environmental reasons, Environment and Urbanization Kurum said on Jan. 1.

“Kahramanmaraş Afşin A, Kütahya Seyitömer, Kütahya Tunçbilek, Sivas Kangal and Zonguldak Çatalağzı thermal powers have been sealed completely and Manisa Soma thermal power plant partially,” Kurum said.

The minister added that four units of the Soma thermal power plant in the western province of Manisa will be allowed to function during the winter season.

The plants had been given until Jan. 1 to install filters in their stacks. Upon failure to comply, the plants were shut down at midnight.

The plants were held accountable for failure to comply with the preventative measures that were finalized when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vetoed a bill that proposed to postpone the installation of stack filters in 15 plants for two and a half years.

Parliament had passed the bill with votes from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its coalition ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).