Turkey mining protests escalate over environmental and water risks

Environmental groups and political figures in Turkey are raising alarms over gold mining activities in various regions, citing severe ecological and water security risks.

In the Karapınar district of Konya, the Turkey Environmental Platform (TÜRÇEP), the Central Anatolia Environmental Platform (İÇAÇEP), and the Karacadağ Protection Platform have called for an immediate halt to open-pit gold mining drilling conducted by Esan, a subsidiary of the Eczacıbaşı Group. Activists warn that the project poses an “ecocide” risk, potentially exacerbating the formation of sinkholes in an area already suffering from drought and groundwater depletion. They also highlighted threats of heavy metal poisoning, such as arsenic and lead, to the local ecosystem and food security.

In the Arhavi district of Artvin, Yeni Party Rize Deputy Tahsin Ocaklı has voiced opposition to planned mining operations. Ocaklı called for a ban on cyanide-based gold extraction methods, arguing that the process consumes excessive amounts of water and threatens local forests and drinking supplies. He criticized the economic model of such projects, suggesting that the majority of the wealth generated is sent abroad while the local environment bears the cost.