07.05.2020 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez attended the joint meeting of the Energy, Mining, LPG, Natural Gas and Petroleum Sector Councils.
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking at the meeting organized via video
conference, underlined that energy, mining, LPG, natural gas and oil sectors
with their high added value and employment capacities, are Turkey's
locomotives, stating, “At the same time, from production to logistics, from
service to agriculture, supplying raw materials, providing continuity of other
sectors, they are strategic sectors. In this difficult time, we see this again.
These sectors have never closed. They did not stop working to ensure that
production and supply chain would not be disrupted.”
Noting
that Energy and Natural Resources Minister Dönmez took the initiative to begin work
on many issues concerning the sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “A number of postponements
and conveniences were provided in the permitting and license fees and processes
in our mining sector. Government shares payments to be paid to the government for
oil exploration and production sectors have been postponed. I would like to
express our gratitude to our Minister for providing us with all these
opportunities. We also have pending and demands which have not yet been finalized.
In particular, an arrangement is required in the YEKDEM mechanism, we demand a
review of costs for our manufacturing producers and a 1-year extension of the
benefit period from YEKDEM for our energy producing companies.”
- Minister Dönmez
Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez stated that TOBB is one of the
most important milestones on the road to tomorrow for Turkey, stressing that
the main factor in the Union's strengthening and continuing on its path is due
to its importance to consultation.
Dönmez
underlined that Turkey is one of the countries which has managed the epidemic
process best, “The measures taken with the understanding that people come first,
even if they slowed down our production, did not stop it - unlike all over the
world. As Turkey, we continue our way with determination, even in the process
of pandemics, even if it is severe. I would like to thank our business world
for the fortitude it has shown in this process.”
Minister
Dönmez pointed out that the balance of production and consumption in Turkey has
changed, and said this situation reduces electricity usage along with the
production of factories.
Dönmez
reminded that there is a special interest in mining due to the difficulty of
working conditions during the outbreak, and many steps were taken from day one
with public and private sector cooperation.
Noting
that a series of measures were implemented rapidly in order to insure that sector
representatives come out of the process with little damage and much experience,
Dönmez, stated that by postponing state rights and license fee payments to the
end of 2020, they’ve made sure that companies can breathe easier in regards to their
budgets.
Dönmez,
noting that statements such as review report, search project, activity report
and business project were also postponed to the end of September - stressed
that steps have been taken for more sustainable mining in line with emerging
conditions.