Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant

Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant is a lignite-fired thermal power station located within the boundaries of the Nallıhan district of Ankara Province, 23 kilometers from Beypazarı and 120 kilometers from the capital Ankara. The plant was established by Türkiye Electricity Generation Corporation (EÜAŞ) and its operating rights were transferred to the private sector in 2000 through a privatization process, making it the first thermal power plant to be privatized in Türkiye. It is currently operated by Park Thermal Electricity Industry and Trade Inc.

^{Çayırhan Mine} (Nallıhan Subgovernorship)

The foundation of the plant was laid on 14 November 1976 and construction was completed in 1978. Its capacity has been increased over time through various expansion projects. Initially operating with two units of 150 MW each, two additional units of 160 MW each were added in the mid-1990s following a major investment. A consortium comprising Austrian Energy and Environment (Austria), Mitsubishi (Japan), Siemens (Germany), GÜRİŞ (Türkiye), Bischoof (Germany), Caillard (France), and SEMKO (Türkiye) signed a contract in 1994 for this expansion project, with work commencing in 1995. The project cost was set at 504 million US dollars.

The plant contributes to the country’s energy needs by generating approximately 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. It uses low-calorific lignite coal extracted from the Çayırhan Lignite Basin. To limit environmental impacts, approximately 95 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions from the stack are captured using a wet limestone scrubbing method, ensuring compliance with current air quality standards.

The plant’s coal supply is sourced directly from the Çayırhan Lignite Field, known as the Çayırhan-Beypazarı Lignite Basin, which is divided into Area I and Area II. Area I began supplying coal to the plant in 1987 and was transferred to a private company on a 20-year basis in 2000. Annual production in this area amounts to approximately 5 million tons, with remaining reserves estimated at 159.8 million tons and an average calorific value of 1,530 kcal/kg. Area II was transferred to a private operator in 2017 and is planned for a new 800 MW thermal power plant, with reserves of 140 million tons and an average calorific value of 1,971 kcal/kg.

Production at the Çayırhan Coal Mine is carried out using fully mechanized longwall mining with retreat mining. In particular, in the area known as Panel C, a single super-longwall is designed to produce over one million tons of coal annually. The average seam thickness in this panel is 4.35 meters, allowing simultaneous extraction of both upper and lower seams within a single longwall system. Advanced underground mining technologies are employed in this system, including powered supports, shearer-loader machines (double-drum), chain conveyors, and ventilation systems.

In addition, semi-mechanized mining using plow systems has also been applied in parts of the region. This method is used in conjunction with retreat mining for high-sulfur coal with elevated fire risk. As mechanization expanded, Dosco MK 2A and PK 9r type roadheader machines began to be used for gallery development.

In addition to the surface facilities dedicated to power generation, the Çayırhan region includes supporting infrastructure such as mine service units, laboratories, silos, chemical analysis units, compressor and power distribution units, warehouses, social facilities, an evacuation station, and worker accommodation areas. These structures were collectively designed in direct support of production activities and form a critical infrastructure for the sustainability of mining operations.

An additional integrated facility in the plant area is the Çayırhan Sodium Sulfate Production Plant. Built on the basis of underground solution mining at the Glauberite mine, the plant was founded in 2010 and began operations in 2011. With an annual capacity of 150,000 tons, the plant processes sodium sulfate solution extracted from underground through various refining procedures to produce purified products. The facility also includes its own power and steam generation plant to meet its energy and steam requirements.

The Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant ranks among Türkiye’s leading thermal power stations in terms of production capacity and technological infrastructure. Its lignite-fired design ensures the utilization of regional coal reserves and supports the development of energy-intensive industries through industrial integration. It also serves as a model facility for improving mining efficiency through mechanization practices.