In Turkey, host country of COP31, the endless devastation of the Afsin-Elbistan coal power plant

The village of Çogulhan is illuminated by the nearby Afsin-Elbistan power plant, which emits thick ashes continuously. Located two hours from Kahramanmaras, the area is characterized by desolate fields and abandoned homes. In the 1970s, German scientists discovered Turkey's largest lignite reserve here, leading to extensive land expropriations for coal mining. Since then, successive governments have maintained and expanded the coal industry, including the construction of a second power plant in 2004.