Residents in Edirne protest proposed bentonite mine project

Residents and local councils in the Enez district of Edirne are protesting a proposed bentonite mine project by Benez Madencilik. The project, which aims to cover 19,940 decares across the villages of Hasköy, Şehitler, Işıklı, and Çandır, faces significant local opposition.

The Keşan City Council and village headmen argue that the mine threatens first-class agricultural lands, forest ecosystems, and vital drinking and irrigation water resources. They also cite concerns regarding increased dust and noise pollution, as well as the depletion of groundwater.

Following a previous attempt in 2022 to open a larger 40,000-decare mine, the company submitted a revised application. Opponents claim the company withdrew a public participation meeting under the guise of a revision, only to resubmit the project without substantive changes. In response, 270 citizens submitted formal objection petitions to the Edirne Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, demanding a negative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision.