Residents of Karaburun in İzmir say 'stop' to Erkan Petekkaya's 'SPP' project: 'Do not touch our air, our water, our land...'

Having fought against Wind Power Plants (WPPs), İzmir's Karaburun is now in the crosshairs of Solar Power Plants (SPPs)...

According to a report in Sözcü, despite being a Special Environmental Protection Area where 89 percent of the land is allocated to WPPs, SPP projects are being brought to the agenda one after another in Karaburun. One of the projects for which the Ministry of Environment recently initiated the EIA process belongs to Nano Yenilenebilir Enerji Yatırımları Anonim Şirketi, owned by actor Erkan Petekkaya. The public participation meeting for the project was held yesterday at the Küçükbahçe village coffeehouse. However, the meeting could not be held due to the public's reaction. Residents of the Küçükbahçe neighborhood and environmental activists from Karaburun held a protest in front of the village coffeehouse. Through their protest, they expressed that they do not want the project.

'MEETING NOT HELD' CRISIS IN THE MINUTES

A crisis occurred when Ministry officials drew up minutes in their vehicles stating that the meeting had begun. Karaburun Mayor İlkay Girgin Erdoğan (CHP) demanded that minutes be recorded stating that the meeting had not started. When the Ministry officials tried to leave in their vehicles, the public blocked their path. The minutes crisis ended with the drafting of alternative minutes. Village headman Gizem Dağdelen stated that they are against the SPP, which is planned to be built on the village's living spaces and pastures. Dağdelen said, 'Even if they grant approval despite our objections, we will not take a step back from taking this to the judiciary.'

VETO FROM KARABURUN RESIDENTS AGAINST SPP

The local people, who do not want the SPP and electricity storage facility planned to be built on a 25-hectare area, which would include 44 thousand 37 solar panels, held a protest with banners.