The growth of geothermal projects in Aydın has garnered attention and raised concerns among environmentalists.

With 33 operational geothermal power plants and numerous drilling wells already in place, the city is witnessing a surge in new developments.

The latest project in question involves an application to establish a geothermal power plant (GPP) in the Köşk district, along with the drilling of four boreholes in Didim. Environmentalists are expressing growing unease about these initiatives.

The Menderes Geothermal Electricity Production Joint Stock Company intends to construct a Dora-5 Geothermal Power Plant with a capacity of 19.8 MWe in Köşk’s Çarşı neighbourhood.

This proposed power plant, covering an area of 25,539 square meters, is situated within agricultural land, with the nearest residence a mere 300 meters away. The estimated cost of the project stands at 120 million Turkish Lira.

In another development, the Karia Geothermal Energy company plans to open four drilling wells in the Yalıköy, Akyeniköy, and Cumhuriyet neighbourhoods of Didim.

These exploration activities, spanning an area of 1,221 hectares, intersect agricultural and forested lands, military zones, and culture and tourism protection zones.

Drilling of the geothermal power plant in Aydın Efeler (Photo: Ferdi Uzun)

The Dilek Peninsula Büyük Menderes Delta National Park lies just 5 kilometres from the project site, with Bafa Lake Nature Park situated 7.5 kilometres away. The project’s cost is estimated at 18.5 million Turkish Lira.

Meanwhile, the Rama Energy Company has embarked on a geothermal power plant (GPP) project covering both Selçuk in Izmir and Germencik in Aydın.

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change has, after two prior cancellations by the court, once again accepted the project and initiated the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

A public participation meeting, as part of the EIA process, is scheduled for October 24, according to the Ministry’s announcement.

This surge in geothermal projects in Aydın has sparked concerns among environmentalists and local communities, who are closely monitoring their potential impact on the region. The ongoing EIA process will play a crucial role in determining the future of these projects and their environmental consequences.