CHP MP Fikret Şahin: Operating Licenses Granted for Thousands of Hectares of Land

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The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has answered the Parliamentary question of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Balıkesir MP Fikret Şahin regarding the domestic/foreign mining projects foreseen for the Ida and Madra Mountains.

CHP's Şahin previously asked "how many mining and operating licenses in total have been granted to how many different companies with domestic and foreign partners" for Ida and Madra Mountains.

In its response to this Parliamentary question, the Ministry has answered that 115 mining licenses have been granted in total. While 107 of these licences have been given to domestic companies and public institutions, 8 of them have been granted to foreign companies.

The Ministry has also informed that 164 operating licences have been granted in total. While 148 of these licenses have been given to domestic companies, 16 of them have been granted to foreign companies.

'They will destroy natural beauties'

Speaking about the answer of the Ministry of Energy, CHP Balıkesir MP Fikret Şahin has said, "Hundreds of mining and operating licences have been granted for thousands of hectares of land to destroy the natural beauties on Ida and Madra Mountains."

"As far as we could see and inspect on site, foreign companies' size of land is bigger than those of domestic companies", Şahin has indicated further and added that "it could also be understood better when we look at the natural zone destroyed by the Canada-based Alamos Gold company."

'Mining activities should be done away from natural life'

Underlining that "the mines of a country should be under the jurisdiction and disposal of the state", Şahin has said,

"If there is a resource underground, it belongs to the state. The current government has divided these lands among hundreds of companies. There arise serious problems of lack of inspection. This very lack of inspection caused more than 200 thousand trees to be destroyed in Çanakkale.

"If a mining activity will be undertaken, we support it only if it is conducted by our domestic companies, under the strict control of the state and in places that are away from natural life."

'Law on mining against the nature of Constitution'

Balıkesir MP Şahin has reminded that the current Law no. 3213 on Mining gives foreign companies the opportunity to undertake mining activities in areas such as natural parks and specially protected environment areas.

Referring to the Article 168 of the Constitution, which guarantees that "mines and underground treasures of the country are under the jurisdiction and disposal of the state", Şahin has indicated that "the Law no. 3213 on Mining has been designed in defiance of national interests and domestic policies of mining. Having worked on this law, we submitted our legislative proposal to the Speaker's Office." (PT/SD)