The source cited by Anagold Madencilik described the harm of the poison using 'Bergama'! 'Compared to the damage it will cause...'

Public outcry has reignited following the collapse of the cyanide heap leach area at the Çöpler Mine in the İliç district of Erzincan.

While the capacity increase was approved in August 2023, the 'Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Not Required' decision, signed by the then Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and current AKP Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Murat Kurum, has further intensified the controversy.

A detail in the EIA application submitted by Anagold Madencilik, a partnership between the Canadian SSR Mining and Çalık Holding, has drawn attention.

According to a report in Birgün; the effects of cyanide use on nature were also evaluated in the EIA application. It was explained in technical language for what purpose and by what method cyanide would be used, and what role the cyanide used would play in gold and silver processing.

EMPHASIS ON "PROFIT-LOSS" IN THE SOURCE

The source independently addresses the extent of the environmental impact of mining with cyanide.

The article, taken from the 'Hurdacı Dergisi' (Scrap Dealer Magazine) of the TMMOB Chamber of Metallurgical Engineers, highlights the cyanide-based gold mining activities in the Bergama district of İzmir.

The article states that although the mine opened by the international mining company Newmont in Bergama in 1989 was halted due to the influence of villagers and various non-governmental organizations, it was reopened as a result of "illegal procedures."

In the section emphasizing that such international mining companies exploit many countries like Turkey, the following remarkable finding is made:

"Even if the profit the company will leave to Turkey and the employment it provides are taken into account, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the waste that will remain in the country and the damage it will cause to the country as a result of a possible accident."

EMPHASIS ON "EXPLOITATION"

The conclusion of the article, which states that companies disregard the damage to the environment and humans while searching for mines with cyanide, included the following statements:

"Such examples regarding gold extraction with cyanide can be encountered in other regions of Turkey and in other countries. The logic is always the same: In order to increase their profits and grow their capital, international monopolies use cyanide in various parts of the world and disregard accidents or the damage that will be caused to the environment and humans. When we examine gold production with cyanide in all its aspects, it is seen that besides having no benefit to humanity, it has many harms. For years, sensitive people (local communities, intellectuals, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, scientists) have been struggling against this issue."