Turkish energy company Zorlu Enerji received a preliminary license on Monday for its 24.9 megawatt (MW) geothermal power project called Kizildere 4 in the country's southwestern Aydin province. 

According to an official statement the company sent to Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), the country's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) granted a preliminary license for Zorlu Enerji's wholly-owned Zorlu Dogal Elektrik Uretimi to build the project. 

In addition to building Turkey's first geothermal power plant, the 15 MW Kizildere 1 in Turkey's southwestern Denizli province, Zorlu Enerji's Kizildere 2 power plant came online on September 2013 with an installed capacity of 80 MW. 

Meanwhile, the company's Kizildere 3 geothermal project, with a 100 MW of installed capacity, had a preliminary license approval on December 2014. 

Zorlu Enerji, operating from project design and construction to electricity sales and maintenance of power plants, is part of the Turkish conglomerate Zorlu Holding, which is one of the biggest corporate groups in the country. 

By Ovunc Kutlu

Anadolu Agency

ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr