Power station pollution ‘unnacceptable’
POISONOUS smoke being emitted from the Teknecik power plant has “exceeded” accepted limits and has reached “unnacceptable” levels of pollution in the atmosphere — posing a health risk to the people in the area, the Ombudsman has found.
Ombudsman Emine Dizdarlı issued a report on the Teknecik electricity “Central” this week where she calls for “energy policy” to be worked on that “is least harmful to the environment and on the public.”
She also said that an investigation had been conducted as to what extent damage had been done to the health of the public and the environment — after complaints were made that the turbines used at Teknecik power plant in Çatalköy were spewing out gasses because of the absence of a filtration system.
“Based on the damages to the environment human health . . . whilst producing electricity . . . it has reached unnaceptable levels,” the report says.
“The amount of damage inflicted on the environment and human health for the continuing production of electricity, it has reached unnaceptable limits,” she said. Stating that the country is “reliant” on external energy sources, she said it was necessary “for all sides to come together and act.”
She said the absence of a filtration system on the plant’s chimney meant that the gasses emitted from the burning of fuel oil which powered the plant would not conform to acceptable emmission levels as specified in the regulations.
She also concluded that it was not a “intelligent way” to invest further on natural gas which is within fossil fuel group that also harms the environment. An ‘independent accredited laboratory’ needs to be formed in the TRNC to analyse all fuel types that is imported to the country, she added.