France Dispenses with Plant in İskenderun

Struggle against thermal plant in İskenderun has yielded results. French public company, Engie, has dispensed with Ada Thermal Plant.

Environment Minister of France, Ségolène Royal, has expressed that one of the sponsors of the climate summit to be held in Paris, Engie that aims to build thermal plant on İskenderun Gulf will stop its investments in coal.

In the same day, Engie CEO Gérard Mestrallet giving an interview to Le Figaro said this decision includes Turkey (Ada Thermal Plant) as well.

French minister Royal in his statement said, "We can't keep investing in fossil fuel while battling disastrous consequences of climate change."

A letter was sent to Hollande

A joint letter by 35 national and international NGOs including İskenderun Environment Protection Association and Greenpeace Mediterranean, WWF, the Turkish Foundation for Combating Erosion Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habits (TEMA), Ecology Collective was sent to President of France François Hollande on October 7.

"In case it is built, Ada Thermal Plant operating with coal is not only a "climate bomb" to trigger climate change, but also threaten an area where holds Turkey's richest land and sea ecosystems. Should France is sincere with respect to climate change, it must stop its investment in Ada Thermal Plant," stated the letter.

29 thermal plants are planned to be built in addition to three avaliable plants on İskenderun Gulf. (NV/TK)

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