TEMA Foundation statement on İliç: 'We do not want predatory mining in our country'

The TEMA Foundation has drawn attention to the destruction caused by Group 4 mining activities in Turkey. Regarding the disaster at the gold mine in Erzincan, the foundation stated, "We regret to say that this is not an accident; the disaster that occurred was foreseeable." The foundation reiterated its demand for legal restrictions on areas closed to mining.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

TEMA Foundation statement on İliç: 'We do not want predatory mining in our country'

On February 13, mine workers were left under soil due to a landslide that occurred at the Çöpler Gold Mine located in the İliç district of Erzincan.

With the landslide, millions of cubic meters of soil containing numerous toxic chemicals, primarily cyanide, mixed into the Euphrates Basin.

In the same mining area, tons of chemicals had spread into the environment on June 21, 2022, as a result of a burst cyanide solution pipe.

For this reason, the mining company had been fined, and its operations had been temporarily suspended.

'WE HAVE SEEN THIS WITH GREAT PAIN'

Stating that the fine imposed on the company was not a precaution, TEMA Foundation Board Chair Deniz Ataç emphasized that these events have once again revealed that the predatory mining activities being carried out in our country cause great destruction to our lives, soil, water, and air, saying, "We regret to state that what happened in İliç is neither an accident nor fate. Following the previous disaster, we have seen with great pain that sufficient precautions were absolutely not taken for public and environmental health in this regard, that science and the overriding public interest were ignored, and how great the dangers of predatory mining are."

Providing information about the history of the mine, Ataç said, "As is known, construction work at the Çöpler Gold Mine began in 2009, and since it became operational in 2010, its capacity has been increased 4 times. On 07.10.2021, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Positive decision was given for the 'Çöpler Complex Mine 2nd Capacity Increase and Flotation Plant' project, and on 16.08.2023, an EIA Not Required decision was given for the 'Çöpler Complex Open Pit Expansion' project.

These permits, granted without sufficient examination to the endless growth demands of predatory mining activities, are approvals given to increase the danger faced by the Euphrates Basin and the pressure on the ecosystem, and are an invitation to the disaster we are experiencing. One of the important facts ignored while these permits were being granted is that Erzincan is an earthquake zone. Earthquakes that will occur will cause major environmental disasters due to the tailings dam, heap leach, and other mining-related reasons," she said.

8 MINING DISASTERS HAVE OCCURRED IN TURKEY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS

Between 2021 and 2024; mining-related environmental disasters occurred in Artvin-Murgul (January 2021), Balıkesir-Ayvalık (January 2021), Giresun-Şebinkarahisar (November 2021), Balıkesir-Ayvalık (December 2021), Mersin-Toroslar (January 2022), Manisa-Gördes (March 2022), Erzincan-İliç (June 2022), and Erzincan-İliç (February 2024).

Furthermore, the collapse of the wall of the tailings dam belonging to the mining operation that continues to operate in Şebinkarahisar has been recorded as a major environmental disaster. Due to thousands of tons of mine waste containing toxic chemicals, the Kelkit Plain and the local people, especially the region's water resources, have faced a great threat.

EIA APPLICATIONS CONTINUE TO INCREASE RAPIDLY

It is known that in 2023 alone, regarding oil, natural gas, and Group III and IV mines, there were 525 projects for which the EIA process began, 443 projects for which an EIA Not Required decision was given, and 37 projects for which an EIA Positive decision was given.

CAN CAUSE FATAL DISEASES

The chemical used during leaching also releases heavy metals such as arsenic, antimony, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc found in the soil, converting them into harmful forms.

These toxic metals can accumulate in living bodies through inhalation and nutrition, causing many diseases, including fatal cases. Due to cyanide and other heavy metals taken into the body through inhalation and the consumption of water and food, acute and chronic poisoning, anemia, heart failure, cancer, kidney failure, mental illnesses, and abnormal births can be seen in all living things.

News Source: 12punto