With the discovery of geothermal water resources in the early 2000s, greenhouse production has started in the Karaali region of Sanliurfa (Turkey). After the first trials have been successful, more and more companies started to invest in the region for greenhouse production.
Tomatoes and other vegetables grown through hydroponic production in greenhouses have started being exported abroad whilst also being sold to domestic markets. Some companies have also started growing indoor ornamental plants, and the greenhouses which utilize geothermal resources have reached 50 hectares. Now the goal is to increase this figure even more in the near future.
The local workforce, which was forced to migrate to other production regions to find employment, is now able to find jobs in their own region in these greenhouses. Greenhouse production has created a lot of jobs, especially for the women.
Greenhouse Investors and Manufacturers Association (SERA – BIR) and GAP Region Greenhouse Growers Association Chairman Muslum Yanmaz told the press that geothermal energy is a significant competitive advantage in greenhouse production, and through these resources, greenhouse production is improving rapidly.
Chairman Muslum Yanmaz: “We have met with the Deputy Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Nureddin Nebati, and other government officials. There are major investors from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates looking to invest in the Karaali region to set up geothermal greenhouses. We are in discussions with these investors and the investment might be close to 100 million USD. We are setting up a separate company Jeotermal A.S. for this business endeavor.
"We have already received government funding support from Karacadag Investment Agency and signed a protocol. Now we are preparing a feasibility report and according to the results of this report, we will bring Turkish and foreign investors together to set up an investment model in the region, which hopefully will set an example for all geothermal greenhouse investments across Turkey. This is a very important project for our country and there are a lot of stakeholders involved such as banks, various ministries, EU funds and investors from the Middle East. We are very excited about creating such an investment model.
"We believe that the economic benefits of this project will be sizable for the national and regional economy. The most important part is setting up the right model with the most suitable stakeholders. Now we are receiving a lot of calls from investors all around Turkey who are looking to set up geothermal greenhouses in their own areas. We are offering them free consultancy services under our association and guiding them.“
Sanliurfa Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ibrahim Halil Peltek provided more detailed information about the project and noted that the current feasibility study is taking place in an area of 1.5 hectares to determine which products are most suitable for the local conditions.
Chairman Ibrahim Halil Peltek: “We want to transform Karaali into the greenhouse production center of the region. There are a lot of foreign investors asking us for information to start production here. Normally at least 60% of the greenhouse costs are spent on heating and cooling expenses. Geothermal resources offer significant reduction in these costs and we want to make sure that we take advantage of this reduction and use it as a competitive advantage to grow good quality products at competitive prices.”
Source: AA