According to the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise, hard coal production in Zonguldak Coal Basin on the northwestern Black Sea coast of Turkey decreased more than 10% in 2013.

The TTK's production at the basin fell to lowest of 73 years at 1.

357 million tonne of hard coal.

Mr Eyüp Alaba? chairman of Mine Workers Union said that “The biggest reason behind the fall is the worker shortage.

“Turkey's most important reserves of metallurgical coals are found in the area, and mining has been conducted in the region for the past 160 years.

Most of the coal production is lignite in Turkey, where coal-fired power plants remain an important energy source, while hard coal's share is only 3.

9%.

According to the International Energy Agency, energy use in Turkey is expected to double over the next decade, with electricity demand growth expected to increase at an ever-faster pace.

Source - www.

hurriyetdailynews.

com