Turkish construction and energy company, Celikler Holding, has attracted attention as a player in the country's energy sector especially with the recent coal investments.
Last week the firm won a tender for the privatization of the two thermal power plants worthy of $521 million. The Orhaneli and Tuncbilek thermal power plants located in western central provinces of Kutahya and Bursa were privatized, the holding qualified as the winner of the tender; however, this was not the first high volume privatization story in the holding's history.
Celikler bought Seyitomer coal plant for $2,248 billion in 2013. The plant had 4 units, that has a capacity of 600 MW in total. The electricity generation of Seyitomer plant alone is 3,9 billion kWh that corresponds to around 1,1 percent of Turkey's installed capacity.
Turkey has more than 68,000 megawatts of total installed capacity in electricity and aims to reach 100,000 megawatt levels by 2023.
Celikler meets its coal need for the thermal plant from Seyitomer Lignite Facility located in the same region. Belonging to company as well, the lignite mine is famous for being Turkey's largest private sector coal producing facility with 6,000,000 tons annually.
According to energy ministry, Turkey's current electricity generation relies around 45 percent on natural gas, 25 percent on hydro plants and 12 percent each on domestic coal, lignite and on coal exports and the rest on other resources. Country aims to generate 30 percent of electricity from coal by 2023.
The Holding has nine sub-companies under the same name but operates in different sectors of business including construction, tourism, energy and mining.
The company also invests in renewables. Turkey currently plants to generate 30 percent of its energy from renewable energy and promotes the investments in the sector.
With regards to the activities in renewable market, the company bought Sultanhisar geothermal field for $25.6 million in 2010. It’s located in Aydın, a province which holds the largest geothermal potential in the Aegean region of the Turkey. Celikler currently is constructing a 9,9 MW capacity geothermal power plant in the region.
The firm’s other geothermal power plant in Aydın is Pamukoren plant with a 60MW capacity.
Meanwhile, Celikler has two hydroelectric power plants located in the Black Sea region. Oren hydroelectric plant in Giresun produces 94.6 gigawatt hours and Ilica hydro in Kastamonu generates 130 gigawatt hours annually.
The company also has two coal mines in the Central Anatolian region, Alaput and Dodurga, each produces 300,000 tons of coal per year.
Celikler Holding’s more than $3 billion investments in the field turned the company into a major player in Turkey’s energy sector.
By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency
nuran.erkul@aa.com.tr