# Turkey's Afsin-Elbistan Coal Plants Cast Shadow Over Upcoming COP31 Local residents face decades of environmental devastation as Turkey prepares to host climate summit. - **Source:** [Le Monde – International](https://www.lemonde.fr/international) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [climate](https://brifing.si/c/climate) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f0eb7863-cb67-43ef-99f5-e012f9b1e067 ## Environmental Crisis in Anatolia The village of Çogulhan remains trapped between two massive coal-fired power plants that operate continuously. These facilities have blanketed the surrounding Anatolian plains in thick ash and grey light for forty years. Residents describe a landscape where the night is never truly dark, defined by constant industrial emissions and environmental decay. ## Host Nation Climate Paradox Turkey is set to host the 31st Conference of the Parties on climate change in Antalya. However, the Afsin-Elbistan complex, located 560 kilometers away, highlights the country's deep reliance on coal. This stark contrast between international climate commitments and local industrial reality creates a significant challenge for the upcoming global summit. ## Historical Resource Discovery In the 1970s, German scientists identified the region as holding Turkey's largest lignite reserve. The site contains over 6 billion tons of coal, characterized by low energy output and high pollutant levels. Authorities subsequently expropriated vast tracts of land to facilitate large-scale open-pit mining operations that define the region today. ## Industrial Expansion Efforts The first concrete colossus was erected in the mid-1980s to exploit the massive lignite deposits. Successive governments prioritized the expansion of these facilities, leading to the construction of a second, identical plant known as 'B' in 2004. These projects have consistently received state support despite the documented environmental and social costs. ## Devastation of Local Life The local landscape is marked by abandoned fields, empty warehouses, and uniform social housing units. Once-thriving agricultural areas have been transformed into a desolate environment dedicated entirely to coal extraction. The remaining inhabitants continue to resist further expansion projects, fighting to protect what little remains of their ancestral territory and health. ## Pollution and Daily Reality The power plants operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, releasing heavy ash into the atmosphere. This persistent pollution has fundamentally altered the quality of life in the surrounding hamlets. The physical presence of the plants, with their towering chimneys, dominates the horizon and dictates the daily existence of locals. ## Economic and Political Context The development of the Afsin-Elbistan site was driven by the promise of energy independence and economic gain. Governments have historically viewed the lignite reserves as a strategic asset, justifying the displacement of local populations. This long-term policy has created a cycle of dependency that is difficult to break despite modern climate goals. ## Future Outlook and Challenges As Turkey prepares for COP31, the situation in Çogulhan serves as a reminder of the difficulties inherent in energy transitions. The ongoing struggle of the villagers against further plant extensions underscores the tension between national industrial policy and global environmental standards. The outcome of this local conflict remains a critical point. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2026/11/07/en-turquie-pays-d-accueil-de-la-cop31-les-ravages-sans-fin-de-la-double-centrale-au-charbon-d-afsin-elbistan_6808282_3244.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._