Ankara, Dec 13 (special CTK correspondent) – The Czech-Turkish project of the construction of the Yunus Emre thermal power plant in Turkey should continue, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim agreed on Tuesday, Zaoralek has told Czech journalists.
He said further procedure will be discussed by a team of experts. They will start in a few weeks.
“We have been politically reassured that both parties consider it worthwhile to strive for a mutually advantageous solution,” Zaoralek asid.
“I will work for another group of experts going to the country as soon as possible. I will ask for this Industry and Trade Minister (Jan Mladek),” Zaoralek said.
Ankara wanted to build the power plant within a programme of making use of its own mineral wealth in energy. The Czechs offered their know-how.
“It would be sad if the whole project failed because of what has happened,” Zaoralek said.
A part of the military carried out an abortive coup in Turkey last summer.
A credit for Yunus Emre has been provided by the Czech Export Bank (CEB) and the EGAP state insurance company insured it.
However, the plant has not yet been completed. nless the issue is resolved, this can cost the Czech state budget about 15 billion crowns, Mladek has estimated.
The major supplier is the Vitkovice Power Engineering Czech company which is insolvent, however. The debtor is the Adularya Turkish firm, which is part of the Naksan holding, which has been controlled by the Turkish government since the July failed coup.
The owners and management members have been detained or emigrated.
Zaoralek said, however, Yildirim said on Tuesday Adularya has not done any wrong and that its employees should continue working in the power plant.
