Sakarya Valley mining protests erupt in Eskişehir

Fahri Karabeli, the Mihalgazi District President of the Saadet Party, has voiced strong opposition to planned cyanide-based gold mining projects in the Sakarya Valley and Mihalgazi district of Eskişehir. Karabeli warned that these mining activities pose significant environmental and economic risks to the region's agricultural sector and natural resources.

Key concerns raised include the potential for cyanide and heavy metals to contaminate the Sakarya River and local groundwater, as well as the high water consumption required for mining operations. Karabeli highlighted the region's unique microclimate, which makes it a vital center for vegetable and fruit production, noting that environmental degradation could jeopardize the livelihoods of local farmers and livestock breeders.

Invoking the previous mining disaster in İliç, Erzincan, Karabeli stated that the community would fight to prevent similar catastrophes in Mihalgazi, Tepebaşı, and the Sakarya Valley. He emphasized that environmental and agricultural policies must prioritize human welfare and nature over the profit motives of mining companies.