Quartz mine to be established in Kaz Mountains: The destruction continues! The Ministry had previously terminated the EIA process...
It has emerged that Park Teknik, a subsidiary of the Ciner Group, applied to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to open a "quartz mine" in the Kaz Mountains and was granted an "EIA not required" decision. The area where the mine is to be established contains a protected area and a first-degree archaeological site.
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Cengiz Holding, Eczacıbaşı, Koza Altın, and Nurol Holding, some of the country's largest capital groups, have been joined by another in starting efforts to conduct mining in the Kaz Mountains.
According to a report by Aycan Karadağ from BirGün; Park Teknik Elektrik Madencilik applied to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to open a "quartz mine" in the village of Yukarışapçı in Bayramiç. The Ministry subsequently issued an "environmental impact assessment (EIA) is not required" decision for the project.
THERE IS A PROTECTED SITE IN THE REGION
Within the scope of the project, 5 thousand 500 tons of material will be extracted annually using the open-pit mining method. It was reported that the operating life of the mine is planned to be approximately 10 years. The region where the mine is intended to be established is located within forest land. There is a protected area 1.5 kilometers away and a "first-degree archaeological site" 1.2 kilometers away.
11 WORKERS HAD LOST THEIR LIVES
Furthermore, the Cazgılar Pond is located in the vicinity of the project area. The company named Park Teknik Elektrik Madencilik had previously applied to the ministry for this project. However, with a decision issued on March 10 of this year, the ministry had terminated the EIA process on the grounds that "the project was not compliant in terms of legislation." Park Teknik had previously come to the agenda with the disaster that occurred at the Çöllolar Coal Field in Afşin, Maraş. In February 2011, consecutive collapses occurred at the site operated by Park Teknik. As a result, 11 workers lost their lives.
The site, which was not operated due to the collapses, was quietly transferred to the state. In a report prepared by the TEMA Foundation regarding the Kaz Mountains, it was reported that the region was practically besieged by mining projects. The report stated that 79 percent of the 1 million 697 thousand hectare area located on the Biga Peninsula and in the north of the Aegean is licensed for mining.