The Privatisation Administration (OIB) has extended bidding deadlines for the Soma B, Orhaneli and Tuncbilek thermal power plants, according to the official gazette and a statement on OIB’s official website.

The deadline for submitting bids for the Soma B power plant has been extended from December 1 to December 19, and from November 24 to December 8 for the block of sale Orhaneli and Tuncbilek power plants along with the operating rights of the related mine fields.

The 990MW Soma B thermal power plant produces annually 7.12bn kWh of electricity. Installed capacity of the Orhaneli power plant, which generates 710mn kWh of electricity, is 210Mw and Tuncbilek’s installed capacity is 365MW, producing 1.05bn KWh of electricity.

In September, the daily Milliyet reported citing data from the ministry of energy that private sector’s share in Turkey’s total electricity production rose to 71.3% in the first half of 2014 from 57% at the end of 2013. The main source of electricity generation in H1 was thermal power plants with a share of 78% in total generation, up from 71.5% at end-2013. Hydropower plants had the second largest share with 18%, down from 25% at the end of last year.