Four Energy Plants Will Be Confiscated

In line with the report of the State Control Board, The State decided to confiscate four energy plants, which include Trakya Natural Gas Combined (in Eregli, Marmara region) owned by Enron, Unimar Natural Gas (in Eregli, Marmara region) owned by Unimar, Esenyurt Natural Gas, owned by Gunay Capan, and Gebze-Dilovasi plants owned by Ova Electricity.The state decided to confiscate four build-operate-transfer (BOT) model plants on the basis of the reports of the Presidential State Control Institute (DDK) which disclosed the irregularities going on in these plants. If the firms, which own these plants, resort to arbitration the government will tell them, “If I publicize your irregularities, your international reputation will weaken.”Energy Minister Hilmi Guler confirmed the operation of confiscating some BOTs, albeit he did not mention their names. Guler said that all preparations were completed and they were awaiting the reply of the Energy Markets Regulation Institution (EPDK) in order to launch the operation. Guler said, “What happened to CEAS and Kepez may also happen to these plants. A similar process will be under way. We will crash corruption.” Guler said that some “very intermingled activities” were going on in BOTs in a way to violate agreements and pointlessly increase costs, which, in turn, are reflected upon energy prices.�