An environmental and tourist allure is at risk of being compromised in Turkey’s northeastern Trabzon province due to a proposed hydroelectric power plant, Mezopotamya Agency’s Tolga Güney reported on Wednesday.
The Uzungöl Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in the valley of Solaklı is poised to “end both the natural beauty and tourism” of the area, according to Abdullah Özen, head of the Uzungöl Environment, Culture and Tourism Association. Labelled as “mind-boggling” by Özen, the project disregards previous judicial decisions and environmental assessments.
The controversial project, initially halted in 2014 following an environmental impact assessment, has been revived. Despite no work being carried out for years, recent months saw the initiating company transfer 90% of the project’s shares and start construction preparations. The plan involves diverting water from Uzungöl’s stream through a 4,350-meter tunnel to the power plant, impacting the area’s unique ecosystem and heritage sites.
Solakli Valley, near the towns of Taşkıran and Uzungöl, is a protected area designated as a first and third degree natural site, adjacent to Uzungöl Special Environmental Protection Area and Nature Park. Construction necessitates the clearing of a square kilometre of forest for access and disrupts agricultural land, amid existing tensions over four other HPP installations in the region.
The local community has once again mobilised against the project, highlighting irreversible damage to the environment, wildlife and regional tourism.