Mehmet Cengiz's blow to Akseki! Local residents and wild goats under threat

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

The new target of Mehmet Cengiz, the owner of Cengiz Holding—known for its proximity to the government and for undertaking numerous rent-seeking projects in Turkey, and who was recently revealed to have paid no corporate tax for the last 3 years—is Antalya's Akseki district. A mining operation license for a total area of 792.99 hectares was granted in the Akseki district for the bauxite ore used by Eti Alüminyum A.Ş., which belongs to Mehmet Cengiz.

However, finding the current area insufficient, Cengiz has set his sights on expanding the operation site by seeking a capacity increase in the licensed area. Although the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is still ongoing, a massive 1700-fold capacity increase is being requested for the mining site.

BAUXITE MINE IN THE MIDDLE OF VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS!

With the capacity increase, the bauxite mine in question will be moved to the middle of the local residents' living areas. Residents of Değirmenlik village are reacting to the situation. The potential health hazards posed by the bauxite mine are increasing concerns.

The known health hazards of bauxite mining are as follows:

• Chemical burns

• Poisoning through inhalation

• Liver and kidney damage

WATER RESOURCES AT RISK

The Akseki Değirmenlik village and its surroundings are known to be rich in karstic water resources. The project site contains aquifers and water sources that are predicted to be affected by mining activities.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WILD GOATS IN THE GİDENGELMEZ MOUNTAINS?

The Gidengelmez Mountains, one of Antalya's natural beauties, are also located within the boundaries of Mehmet Cengiz's bauxite mining site. These mountains are home to mountain goats, which are on the Red List of Threatened Species published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hunting and domesticating the wild goats living in the Gidengelmez Mountains is prohibited by legal obligations enforced by the state.

With the project, the lives of the wild goats will also be endangered. The prepared EIA report suggests that the animals in the area should be captured or driven away by 'making noise' during mining operations.

Another statement in the EIA report says, "Since the bauxite mine in question has a hard formation, it cannot be easily excavated with construction machinery. Material separated from the surface by drilling and blasting can be loaded more easily with construction machinery. Production will be carried out using the drilling and blasting method."

SOIL WILL BE DAMAGED, PLANTS WILL BE POISONED!

Antalya's Akseki district is a region rich in bulbous and tuberous plants. For the bauxite mine, the top 10 cm of soil will be completely 'stripped' away.

There are also numerous trees in the region, such as juniper, cedar, Turkey oak, black pine, and red pine.

Speaking to 12punto on the subject, Akseki Mayor İlkay Akca stated, "The company is persistently trying to obtain a positive EIA report."

Akca said:

"The requested expansion of the mining site is an increase that will affect the region to a very great extent. It is very clear that it will cause irreversible damage. Activities that will poison the environment will take place. At this stage, we know that the firm owned by Mehmet Cengiz is trying to obtain a positive EIA report. We absolutely do not want this and we are against it. As Akseki Municipality, we will follow the process until the end."