Dear Colleagues,
On Wednesday, May 9, 2012, yours truly was at the Afsin Elbistan coal mine fields in order to determine the latest status of the site; here is the preliminary site report.
The Afsin-A plant is in operation with the first unit at 120 MWe, and the second unit at 100 MWe output capacity firing fuel oil nr.6 and nr.2 with some partial lignite from time to time.
There are almost 900 employees working in the Afsin-A plant. We wonder whether the plant can generate sufficient income to pay employee salaries.
The Afsin-A stacks have minimized emission levels so as not to invigorate the environmental reactions.
Afsin-B works with a 300 MWe first unit and 200 MWe second unit in full conformity with environmental regulations, firing Kislakoy lignite. The Collolar coal fields are closed.
Coal-handling lines are not in good condition, breaks and stops are a normal daily occurrence.
South Koreans are working at the site for feasibility preparations to upgrade and rehabilitate the Afsin-A plant.
We have been informed that French Alstom has already delivered a tentative rehabilitation proposal for Afsin-A for a ballpark figure of 1 billion USD. They advise that President-elect Hollande initiate business for interested French contractors in the future.
There are Chinese companies at the site for preliminary investigations into an Afsin-A rehabilitation and new C-E plant turn-key contracts. Their stated ballpark budget figures were less than 1 billion USD for new 4x350 MWe units.
Commentators agree that the site is the last remaining example of this sort of state operation, and is to be handed over for privatization at the soonest possibility.
This is for your information and records,
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