RESOURCES, QUALITY AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SOLID FOSSIL FUELS IN TURKEY
Dokuz EyluÅNl University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geology, 35100-Bornova-İzmir, Turkey. E-mail : hulya.inaner@deu.edu.tr
Dokuz EyluÅNl University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geology, 35100-Bornova-İzmir, Turkey. E-mail : eran.nakoman@deu.edu.tr
Abstract
Turkey possesses fossil fuel resources of hard coal, lignite, bituminous shale, asphaltite, peat, petrol andnatural gas. Among these, the hard coal and lignite have the greatest importance in energy production and for the national economy. The hard coal reserve of Turkey is estimated to be 1.1 billion tonnes with a calorific value between 5650-7250 kcal/kg (23655-30354 kJ/kg). Lignites occur in the Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene and Pliocene basins all around Turkey. The majority of Turkish lignite deposits are worked in open-pit mines with the total lignite coal reserve estimated to be around 8.3 billion tonnes (by 2001 estimates). Lignites are mined by TKI (Turkish Coal Enterprises)at a rate between 60-65 million tonnes per year. Because of their low calorific values, most of the lignites produced are used in the electrical power plants. Whilst the total capacity of hard coal based power plants is 300 MW, that of thelignite based ones is 5913 MW. The total reserve of the asphaltite deposits is estimated to be 82 million tonnes. Bituminous shales amount to a total reserve of approximately 1,641 million tonnes, but are not being utilized economicallyat present. Peat deposits are estimated to be in the order of 190 million tonnes, and are generally used only as plant soil. Among the above-mentioned solid fossil fuels, lignite has the greatest importance and potential. Based on the reserve estimation data available at present, it is safe to say that Turkey has enough solid fossil fuel reserves to meet most of its energy needs for many years to come.