Turkish court revokes permits of Çöpler Gold Mine previously granted by Minister Kurum

A Turkish court has revoked the environmental clearance for the Çöpler Gold Mine in eastern Turkey, which was initially granted by Environment Minister Murat Kurum. A landslide at the mine claimed nine lives in February, revealing operational neglect at the facility.

Wednesday August 21 2024 10:55 am

Osman Çaklı / Gazete Duvar

The Erzincan Administrative Court ruled on Aug. 21 to annul the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and permits for the Çöpler gold mine operated by Anagold Mining in eastern Turkey’s Erzincan province.

The court canceled the EIA report and permits granted to the gold mine by the Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum. Kurum was reinstated to office recently in July, after a year-long break he took to focus on his candidacy for Istanbul mayor from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

A previous lawsuit against the İliç gold mine, filed by Sedat Cezayirlioğlu and his lawyer İsmail Hakkı Atal, had been dismissed. However, in 2023, an appellate court overturned the lower court's decision and ordered a new expert examination of the mine site.

The Erzincan Court concluded that the “Positive Environmental Impact Assessment” decision issued by the Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Ministry in October 2021 for a capacity increase at the Çöpler Mine was “not in compliance with the law and regulations.”

The mine operator Anagold Mining Company recently came under fire for laying off 187 workers due to "financial difficulties."

In February, a cyanide-laden heap leach pile collapsed at the mine operated by Anagold Mining in Erzincan’s İliç district, a joint venture between Canadian SSR Mining and Turkey’s Çalık Holding, known for its close ties to the government.

As a result, nine miners were buried under the soil and could not be retrieved for months. The body of the last miner was discovered as late as June.

Within the scope of the prosecutor's investigation, six people including senior executives who were found to be primarily at fault in the incident were arrested.

The Environment Ministry announced that the environmental permit and license of the mine were canceled a few days after the disaster. However, the miners’ lawyers have stated that the company has been preparing to continue its operations.

Minister Kurum denied responsibility when confronted about his signature on the unprecedented capacity increase of the mine, calling the accusations “ill-willed political abuse,” and held that the document went through expert panels before arriving on his desk.

(English version by Ayşenaz Toptaş)