Black Sea port city residents protest new coal plant project by land and sea

BARTIN

Two previous environment assessment reports for the 1,320-megawatt plant were rejected in 2010 and 2011. AA Photo

Residents of the touristic Black Sea port of Amasra took to the land and the sea on World Environment Day June 5 to protest against the construction of a new coal plant near their town, which is known for its green landscape.

The locality, which has entered UNESCO’s provisional heritage list for natural assets such as the Küre Mountain National Park and cultural assets including its renowned fortress, is part of government plans to build new plants across the country.

Dozens of protesters, including women and senior citizens, made a press statement slamming the environmental assessment report (ÇED) approved by the court as a sham.

“While the Culture Ministry is making efforts to include Amasra in UNESCO’s permanent cultural heritage list, the same ministry expresses an opinion in favor of the construction of the plant in the environmental assessment report, indicating that there is nothing of much value in terms of history or tourism. What kind of paradox is that?” the statement said.

Amasra’s fishermen, who argue that the plant will hurt fishing along the coast, also showed their support to the demonstrations by sounding their foghorns.

“When your ancestors left you the Amasra fortress as a legacy, what will you leave to your grandchildren apart from a nature and history destroyed by the coal plant?” the statement said.

Two previous environment assessment reports for the 1,320-megawatt plant were rejected in 2010 and 2011. The company conducting the project, Hattat Holding, changed the location to Gömü village in 2013. The mainly positive report is expected to be accepted following a final evaluation meeting on June 8.