Minister Bayraktar spoke for the first time about the protesting miners.

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While the miners' protests against the privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant located in the Nallıhan district of Ankara continue; on Monday, worker representatives who met with the ministry announced that they would start a hunger strike if their demands were not met.

MINISTER BAYRAKTAR SPEAKS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also broke his silence regarding the protest. Responding to journalists' questions after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Bayraktar pointed out that they had discussed the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant with the union, stating, "There are points they are concerned about. Among these, there may be elements that have a legitimate basis. Therefore, in that respect, we believe it is correct to carry out a privatization by addressing their concerns."

FEAR OF HUNGER STRIKE

Addressing the concerns regarding the news that workers would start a hunger strike, Bayraktar said, "You know. A lot of things from outside have started to inflate this issue. Most of the workers here are not public employees. They are not currently under a public umbrella. Therefore, we need to address the issues they are concerned about with a proper framework."

"WE CANNOT TREAT THIS SEPARATELY"

Bayraktar noted that after 2002, they had the private sector build all power plants in Turkey, and that they were running a privatization program for 9-10 thousand megawatts in public-owned plants, stating, "This system works this way. Therefore, there is not much meaning in treating this separately, but the rights of the workers here should not be harmed. Both workers and politicians have called. What I told them is this: let's eliminate the issues that have rights and concerns there. This place should start production as soon as possible," he said.

"ÇAYIRHAN SHOULD WORK MORE"

Bayraktar concluded his remarks by saying, "Coal production has recently decreased. Electricity production has also decreased. There are things that are declining during this period. In a place where there is a natural gas environment, we need to increase our electricity production from domestic coal. For this reason, Çayırhan must work, and even work more. Currently, 1249 people are working in the mine. That number needs to increase."