A controversial gold mining project in the Alpagut and Atalan neighbourhoods of Eskişehir, Turkey, has drawn sharp condemnation from local environmentalists. The project, led by Eti Bakır A.Ş., a subsidiary of the Cengiz Holding conglomerate, involves the use of cyanide in mining processes, a method widely criticised for its ecological and public health risks.
In response, a new organisation, the Eskişehir Ecology Association, was officially founded on 13 June to coordinate opposition efforts. In an interview with Mesopotamia Agency on 18 June, the association’s president, Filiz Fatma Özkoç, warned that the project poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem.
Özkoç, who has previously been active in the Eskişehir Nature and Life group, said she wishes a similar mine that opened in Sivrihisar Kayaz two decades ago had been opposed. This time, she said, the potential damage would be even more far-reaching due to the use of cyanide, which could affect not only the immediate area but also neighbouring cities.
She noted that Eskişehir plays an important role in Turkey’s environmental balance, particularly as a green supply zone for cities like Istanbul and Ankara. The planned mine site lies within a mountainous and forested area, making it especially vulnerable to the effects of chemical and heavy metal pollution.
Citing examples, Özkoç said that during a visit to a mine on Uşak’s Kışla Mountain, three villages in the vicinity had been abandoned due to ecological damage, forcing residents to migrate. She criticised claims that the land can be restored after mining, calling such promises unrealistic.
Özkoç also expressed concern at claims that cyanide does not cause cancer, framing this as a dangerous misunderstanding of a global environmental issue. “Climate change has taken place because of us humans,” she said. “These laws should benefit people, the public, nature, and life. They should not benefit some capital owners.”
She further criticised what she described as widespread abuse of mining licences in Turkey, claiming that 70 to 80 percent of companies operate under fraudulent permits and without proper ecological assessment.
During the 13 June announcement of the association’s founding, member Mert Yedek told a gathered crowd that a festival would be held in the Mihalgazi and Avpuko districts, along with surrounding villages, to raise awareness. Legal action to challenge the mine is also being explored. The group’s second public assembly is set for 4 July.
