Mollakara Gold Mine opening and Turkish security roadmap

The Mollakara Gold Mine in the Diyadin district of Ağrı, Turkey, has officially opened following an 18-year period of exploration and engineering. Developed by Türk Altın İşletmeleri under the Turkey Wealth Fund with a $250 million investment, the facility successfully completed its first gold pour on July 16.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz noted that the mine holds an estimated visible and probable reserve of 471,000 ounces of gold. The project is expected to produce approximately 17 tons of gold within its first five years, a volume projected to increase Turkey’s total annual gold output by 10%, from roughly 30 tons to 33 tons. This production is estimated to contribute $2.5 billion to the country’s current account balance by reducing reliance on gold imports.

Operationally, the facility covers a 4,700-decare licensed area with a crushing-screening capacity of 958 tons per hour. The mine is expected to provide significant regional economic benefits, directly impacting between 1,500 and 1,700 people through employment and economic activity.

Yılmaz previously emphasized that utilizing domestic resources is a strategic priority to strengthen the national economy. During the opening period, he also announced a roadmap for a “terror-free Turkey” and a “terror-free region,” aiming to boost investment, employment, agriculture, and tourism in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions by resolving terrorism.