Fikret Çengel's article 'İliç, which met with gold, became the Paris of the East' resurfaces

Erzincan's İliç district, where the Çöpler Gold Mine operated by the Anagold company is located, remains in a state of waiting for the workers who were trapped under soil following a collapse.

Fikret Çengel had penned an article about 8 months before the mining accident. Çengel, who held various positions for approximately 18 years at the Yeni Şafak newspaper, which is known for its proximity to the government, wrote an article in the Dünya newspaper on July 17, 2023, about Erzincan's İliç titled 'İliç, which met with gold, became the Paris of the East', which has now surfaced.

WHAT DID ÇENGEL SAY?

In his article in the Dünya newspaper titled 'İliç, which met with gold, became the Paris of the East', Fikret Çengel stated the following in summary:

Anagold has become a pioneer of gold mining in Turkey by using high technology at the Çöpler Gold Mine. To date, over 1 billion dollars have been invested in the mine. The Çöpler Mine has not only provided tons of gold to the Central Bank but has also turned Erzincan's İliç district into one of Turkey's most developed districts through the influence of the mining site.

Anagold, which operates the mine, operates as a joint venture of SSR Mining, one of the world's largest gold producers, along with Alacer Gold Mining, in which it holds an 80 percent stake. Gold production is carried out at the Çöpler Mine using modern technology, with approximately 300 thousand ounces of gold produced annually.

HE CLAIMED THE LEVEL OF PROSPERITY HAD INCREASED

Anagold Mining's investment amount in Turkey has reached 2 billion dollars, and the company plans to continue its investments in the medium and long term. The company currently provides employment to 2 thousand 700 people, including the local population. With the impact of the Çöpler Mine, the economy of the İliç district has revived, the district's level of prosperity has increased, and reverse migration has begun.

Anagold has established a Social Development Fund to support local people who have no connection to the mine. The fund was created with a contribution of 2 dollars per ounce obtained from the mine, and to date, 1.3 million dollars in support has been provided to various social responsibility projects.

With the "Full Resettlement Project" carried out in Çöpler Village, the village residents have been moved outside the mining site and are living in modern housing. This project has the distinction of being the first full resettlement project belonging to the private sector in Turkey.

News Source: 12punto