New move from Limak: Approval granted for gold mine

Limak Holding, which has been in the spotlight for its activities in the Akbelen Forest, is starting a gold and silver mine project in the Balya district of Balıkesir. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report approved by the Ministry has been published.

According to the 8,720-page report prepared by Altınordu Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a subsidiary of Limak Holding managed by Nihat Özdemir's son Batuhan Özdemir, the company will operate on 276.93 hectares of its 1,724-hectare licensed area.

GIANT PROJECT

It was stated that the mining site will consist of open and underground pits, and the area will be the size of 390 football fields. The project is expected to begin with infrastructure works in the last quarter of 2025, with an estimated expenditure of approximately 3 billion 865 million TL.

CYANIDE AND DYNAMITE WILL BE USED

According to the report, dynamite will be detonated in dry farming, pasture, forest, and scrubland areas within the scope of the project. The extracted ore will be processed in a cyanide enrichment facility. The EIA report revealed that 370 tons of cyanide will be used annually.

20 THOUSAND TREES WILL BE CUT DOWN

The report states that 19,729 trees will be cut down in the mining area. These trees include stone pine, black pine, maritime pine, Turkish pine, hornbeam, Hungarian oak, and Turkey oak species.

PROTECTED SPECIES IN DANGER

The EIA report emphasized that there are numerous plant species in the region, including five regionally endemic, five endemic, and four rare categories. Additionally, 79 bird species were identified in the area. 72 of these birds are protected under the Bern Convention, to which Turkey is a party. 18 of the 31 mammal species living in the region are also covered by the same convention.

News Source: 12punto