BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Turkey’s coal reserves and the problem of dependence on sources abroad for energy. A summary of his column is as follows:
Turkey’s Zonguldak coal region is sinking further and further with each passing day. This region for producing coal, which seems to have been abandoned to its fate, is the victim of wrongheaded policies. While the problem of energy has been very much discussed recently, looking at the Zonguldak coal region would be beneficial for both our country’s economy and the greater good. Turkey is discussing the energy issue from two angles:
Charges of corruption in the energy sector Turkey’s dependence on sources abroad to meet its energy needs
Figures supplied by Energy Minister Hilmi Guler on corruption in the energy sector are shocking, for according to the minister, the cost of corruption to the sector is fully $41.5 billion. At this point, we are anxiously awaiting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s promised explanation as to how Turkey is being robbed, as well as the findings of Parliament’s special Anti-Corruption Commission.
As for the second angle, Turkey is becoming a country increasingly dependent on sources abroad for its energy. The most concrete example of this is natural gas. Turkey has accelerated its investments in natural gas, but now has more supplies than necessary, by Guler’s hand. However, Turkey has failed to make use of its other energy resources, for example, its Zonguldak coal.
The results of studies made by scientists are both surprising and sad. Dr. Ilgin Kursun of Istanbul University’s Mineral Engineering Department and department head Professor Ali Kahriman said the following: The world’s known oil reserves have a lifespan left of 45 years, natural gas 65 years and coal 240 years. According to scientists, coal will be the most reliable and important energy resource through the 21st century. However, Turkey is turning its nose up at its own coal resources. Our Zonguldak coal region has reserves of 1.3 billion tons. This resource isn’t being used except for meeting the needs of the Catalagzi Power Plant, because it is expensive. Turkey seems to be dependent on sources abroad for coal as well. For instance, in 1970 Turkey imported only 16,000 tons of coal, but by 1999 our imports had skyrocketed to 9.5 million. However, the coal reserves in Zonguldak can be extracted economically and can also help the economy. Scientists consider this possible. We can’t strengthen our economy or rescue ourselves from our dependence on imports without taking advantage of rich underground resources. Both Kahriman and Kursun suggest that modernization works can begin in the Zonguldak region.
Considering the figures supplied by Guler on losses due to energy corruption, the importance of investments in this field become that much more clear. Ankara and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Zonguldak should heed these scientists’ urgings.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION