not consider what needs to be considered in the process… [For example, the] EIA process
has…to be conducted prior to constructions… [but] it remains superficial…We see cases in
which constructions began without completing the EIA process…In addition, there are
people using that water for their livelihoods. They are disregarded too in the HEPP process.
These extracts imply that Turkey’s HEPP processes are not conducive to the
components of meaningful participation. The roots of these missing elements in
Turkish politics lie in the focus on modernization and modernist legacies. This, in
turn, illustrates how the Turkish state perceives meaningful participation in the
HEPP process.
As clearly indicated in Bozdogan/Kasaba (1997) and Adaman/Arsel (2005),
policy-making processes are inherently centralized and operated with a top-down
perspective. This can be seen in Turkey’s HEPP process, as its operation is
introduced at administrative level, shown in Fig. 9.1 (see also Ozerol et al., 2013).
The operation of the process and the roles of the relevant actors are explained in this
section, based on the By-law on Principles and Practices on Signing the Water Use
Right Agreements for Electricity Production in the Electricity Market (2003). These
operations and roles are also corroborated by the NGO representatives, DSI officials
and private sector representatives interviewed for this study.
The DSI, operating under the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, and EPDK
under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, can be thought of as the key
DSİ-EİE
-Planning
-Projecting
DSİ
-Calls for
applications
Company
-Submits the letter
of indemnity and
project proposals
DSİ-EİE
-Ask for feasibility
reports from
companies
DSİ
-Approval of
feasibility reports
-Informs EPDK
Company
-Application to EPDK
for production licence
EPDK
-Approval of
company’s licence
application
-Informs DSİ
DSİ
-Signature of Water
Use Right Agreements
with the company
EPDK
-Finalisation of
licensing
Ministry of
Environment and
Urbanisation
-EIA clearance for
the company
EPDK and
Ministry of
Energy and
Natural
Resources
-Initiating
expropriation
process
Company
-Construction
-Operation of HEPP
-Electricity Production
DSİ-Ministry of
Energy
-Monitoring
Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources
-Utilization of electricity
Fig. 9.1 Overview of the HEPP process in Turkey. The author’s own illustration heavily based on
2003 By-law, also described by the interviewees. Same figure appears in the author’s publication
(Sayan, 2019)
9 Exploring Environmental Justice: Meaningful Participation …
151
has…to be conducted prior to constructions… [but] it remains superficial…We see cases in
which constructions began without completing the EIA process…In addition, there are
people using that water for their livelihoods. They are disregarded too in the HEPP process.
These extracts imply that Turkey’s HEPP processes are not conducive to the
components of meaningful participation. The roots of these missing elements in
Turkish politics lie in the focus on modernization and modernist legacies. This, in
turn, illustrates how the Turkish state perceives meaningful participation in the
HEPP process.
As clearly indicated in Bozdogan/Kasaba (1997) and Adaman/Arsel (2005),
policy-making processes are inherently centralized and operated with a top-down
perspective. This can be seen in Turkey’s HEPP process, as its operation is
introduced at administrative level, shown in Fig. 9.1 (see also Ozerol et al., 2013).
The operation of the process and the roles of the relevant actors are explained in this
section, based on the By-law on Principles and Practices on Signing the Water Use
Right Agreements for Electricity Production in the Electricity Market (2003). These
operations and roles are also corroborated by the NGO representatives, DSI officials
and private sector representatives interviewed for this study.
The DSI, operating under the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, and EPDK
under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, can be thought of as the key
DSİ-EİE
-Planning
-Projecting
DSİ
-Calls for
applications
Company
-Submits the letter
of indemnity and
project proposals
DSİ-EİE
-Ask for feasibility
reports from
companies
DSİ
-Approval of
feasibility reports
-Informs EPDK
Company
-Application to EPDK
for production licence
EPDK
-Approval of
company’s licence
application
-Informs DSİ
DSİ
-Signature of Water
Use Right Agreements
with the company
EPDK
-Finalisation of
licensing
Ministry of
Environment and
Urbanisation
-EIA clearance for
the company
EPDK and
Ministry of
Energy and
Natural
Resources
-Initiating
expropriation
process
Company
-Construction
-Operation of HEPP
-Electricity Production
DSİ-Ministry of
Energy
-Monitoring
Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources
-Utilization of electricity
Fig. 9.1 Overview of the HEPP process in Turkey. The author’s own illustration heavily based on
2003 By-law, also described by the interviewees. Same figure appears in the author’s publication
(Sayan, 2019)
9 Exploring Environmental Justice: Meaningful Participation …
151