Minister Bayraktar: Özel, I am sorry, but you know nothing about this subject

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bayraktar, in a post on his social media account, said, "You say, 'We know something, brother,' Özgür Özel; I am sorry, but you know nothing about this subject. Because today, you have once again engaged in clear defamation by conflating mining law, licensing processes, permit mechanisms, and the state's oversight responsibility.

Even though we clearly reported the number of mining licenses with official sources yesterday, you continue to distort the data in plain sight. The picture you are trying to market as 'disorder' by deliberately exaggerating the number of currently active licenses is a reflection of your own municipalities in the mirror.

The real 'disorder' is taking shape right beside you, around you, and in your circle. The cheap political fiction you are trying to construct over the Berat Albayrak era is a product of a separate intolerance," he stated.

"You are uncomfortable with Turkey's will to reduce foreign dependency"

Expressing that there is discomfort with Turkey's will to localize in the fields of energy and mining, to bring its resources into the economy, and to reduce foreign dependency, Bayraktar said, "We reiterate that we will not tolerate any approach that abuses the opportunities our state provides to investors, disregards the labor and rights of our workers, and victimizes our miners.

Furthermore, as the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, we continue to decisively operate all inspection and sanction mechanisms to protect the rights, sweat, and work safety of our miners.

We have not left our country's resources or our workers' rights to anyone's recklessness, negligence, or political exploitation until today, and we will not do so from now on either," he said.