[8] In 2015 it was licensed, despite environmental protests,[8] and Shanghai Electric Power said it would be China's largest ever direct investment in Turkey.

[9] In April 2019 a Belt and Road Initiative deal was signed to build the 1320 MW power station[3] and construction started in September.

[10] In June 2022 opposition Republican People's Party Adana deputy Burhanettin Bulut called for a Parliamentary inquiry, complaining that the power plant was about to be started up despite ongoing lawsuits and a one hundred thousand signature petition.

[2] The design is for a combination of electrostatic precipitators, flue-gas desulfurization and wet scrubbers to reduce dust emissions to less than 5mg/Nm3.

[29] But environmental groups estimate that air pollution from the power station would cause an extra 50 early deaths per year.

[31] An expert report in 2020 concluded that the plant would be contrary to the İskenderun Bay (Adana-Mersin-Hatay) Integrated Coastal Areas Plan's principles,[32] and opponents say it contravenes the Biodiversity Convention.

The Health and Environment Alliance say that TurkStat figures show respiratory diseases have already increased in Adana Province, and that could be due to other coal-fired power stations.

[38] TEMA Foundation filed a lawsuit in 2017[39] and in 2018 several other organisations under the grouping of Doğu Akdeniz Çevre Platformu (East Mediterranean Environment Platform) were in ongoing legal action in Ankara.