Altınova (Turkey) (AFP)

Four years ago, this bulk carrier was still transporting coal, gravel or sand. Today, its hold contains a power plant ready to be deployed in a few weeks anywhere in the world.

While the new coronavirus pandemic and conflicts in the Middle East have halted whole swathes of economic activity or created a climate of uncertainty, these crises have created new opportunities for Turkish floating power plants.

The Karpowership company has been building floating power plants for nearly 15 years by converting old freight ships. With its fleet of 25 aircraft, it is today one of the pillars of this sector.

Paradoxically, the pandemic of new coronavirus, which has halted the activity of many companies, has created a windfall effect for the Turkish company by highlighting the advantages of its floating power plants, in particular unbeatable delivery times: maximum 60 days .

The containment measures taken in many countries over several months have indeed complicated the advancement of conventional power plant projects, the construction of which in normal times already takes several years.

"The credits were no longer approved, suppliers could not meet deadlines and workers could not work on construction sites," said Zeynep Harezi, commercial director of Karpowership.

"The demand for our central vessels has naturally increased. We are currently in discussions with more than 10 countries which have told us of an urgent need," she told AFP.

- Juicy Libyan contract? -

Floating power plants, or "powerships" in English, have existed since the 1930s.

The principle is simple: a merchant ship is converted into a floating power plant, it travels to its destination, then it is connected to the local electricity network to supply it.

Karpowership has deployed 19 in 11 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in Cuba. These floating power plants provide more than half of the electricity consumed by several West African countries: Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Sierra Leone.

These infrastructures are particularly suitable for countries whose capacities are insufficient to meet growing demand or have been destroyed by conflict.

From this point of view, the war in Libya, where Turkey militarily supports the government of Tripoli, could do the business of Karpowership which is currently discussing the sending of several floating power stations, according to the Turkish press.

Ankara dispatched a large delegation to Tripoli in June, led by its foreign minister and finance minister.

"The main vector of Turkey's intervention in Libya (...) is the desire to have a say in future contracts in this country", particularly energy, recalls Soner Cagaptay, of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy.

Without confirming the negotiations, Karpowership said it was ready to deploy floating power plants "this summer" to supply 1,000 megawatts (MW), or "eight hours of additional electricity" per day in a country facing massive blackouts.

- Risk share -

To be able to meet its delivery deadlines, the company is investing massively to build floating power plants before they are even ordered. A calculated share of risk.

"There, we have a billion dollars on the quay," said Harezi, pointing to the six floating power stations of different sizes moored in a shipyard in northwest Turkey, pending the signing of future contracts.

"Normally, it takes 18 months to build a floating power plant. But since our shipyards build them on a chain, it only takes six months," said Deniz Yalçindag, an engineer with the company.

Many observers believe, however, that floating power plants are at best temporary solutions for countries with insufficient or obsolete infrastructure.

Deploring this "psychological barrier", Ms. Harezi stresses that ships can remain in place for 25 years due in particular to the special coating with which their hull is coated.

Today, the company sees things big and plans to double the size of its fleet in the next five years, with the ambition of also attracting developed countries.

© 2020 AFP