Is it possible to be a sustainable energy company in Turkey? A case study of OMV's thermal electric power plant in Samsun

Abstract

OMV Samsun Electricity Generation Industry and Trade Inc. is constructing a combined-cycle power plant using natural gas of Blue Stream (Mavi Akim) imported from Russia in the Province of Samsun, Terme-Kozluk District of Turkey. Also some other Turkish companies constructed smaller thermal electric power plants in the area. OMV's 870 MW plant planned to commence operations in mid 2013 but production license cancelled by The Council of State (Danistay) three times due to legal environmental protection constraints which is power plant constructed by the cultivated area. The power plant will cover 3% of Turkey's electricity needs. During ongoing construction process, protests and legal claims of NGOs raised and the company developed defense mechanisms against the claims which is raised. The NGOs applied to the local court and after judgement, The Council of State (Danistay) has been stopped production license agreement of Natural Gas Combined Power Plant dated 25.08.2008 and No. EU/1583-5/1149 issued by Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), finally production license for 49 years issued after legislation accepted by the Turkish government. In this research we aimed to analize this legal process and make some suggestions about the CSR activities of a multi-national company (MNC) operating in Turkey about their present claim of being a sustainable energy company.