In July 2025, the Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a controversial law allowing the clearing of olive groves and the exploitation of lignite coal reserves beneath them[^1].

This legislation directly benefits private companies that acquired the operating rights of formerly state-owned, aging thermal power plants through privatization[^2]. Once published in the Official Gazette, the law will go into effect, leading to the felling of centuries-old olive trees[^3].

Had these plants remained under public ownership, they might have continued to operate at minimal capacity under the pretext of “preserving employment.” However, now in private hands, these........

© Eurasia Review