Last call for license return to ‘inactives’ in Turkey

Merve Erdil ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

EPDK makes last call for license return to inactive energy firms. REUTERS photo

Many energy companies took licenses to produce electricity in recent years but most have failed to produce any thus far. According to a new law, these companies could declare their exit from the market and claim their assurance money back no later than today, April 29.

The Turkish government is aiming to clean up the electricity market from some companies which had acquired licenses to produce electricity, especially wind power, but have so far failed to act on this. To this end, some changes were made in the latest law regulating the electricity market. According to these changes, such companies could exit from the market by taking their assurance money back without facing any penalties no later than today. “The deadline for these companies is April 29. This is the last exit before the bridge for these companies. If they do not apply to declare their exit from the market, they will face various penalties, including the license revocation and the bans on their energy activities. These companies need to make their calculations properly,” said Hasan Köktaş, president of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

According to Köktaş Turkey’s regulatory authorities, banks and real investors want to rid the industry of such “cheating” companies. “The authorities gave licenses for 271 wind power plants with 9,525 MW installed capacity until now. We see, however, that only 63 facilities are in operation with a 2,367 MW installed capacity.”