Privatization of Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant and Current Approaches for the Field and Plant

Abstract

Kizildere Geothermal Field is located between Denizli and Ayd?n Provinces in the northeastern extreme of the Büyük Menderes Graben of Western Turkey. Kizildere field is the first explored geothermal field in Turkey having capacity able to generate energy. Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant is operated by Electricity Generation Co. Inc (EÜAS) on be half of the government for 24 years. Zorlu Energy Group acquired the operational rights of the power plant and its surrounding (70 km2) and Kizildere Geothermal Field Licence including current power plant operation is transferred to Zorlu Energy at 1 September 2008 for 30 years by Ankara Electricity Production Company (ADÜAS). Zorlu Energy started to work in the field both to increase capacity of current power plant and to feasibility studies to establish a new power plant with 60 Mwe capacity as the first stage of power expansion in the licence area. As a first step in the project, the power generation of the current power plant has been increased from 6 MW to 15 MW by cleaning of wells., Various geological, geochemical and geophysical studies have been performed at the licence area for the new power plant during the feasibility period.