07.10.2020 Ankara
The TOBB Turkish Mining Council Meeting was held via video conference with the participation of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez.
Hisarcıklıoğlu gave his speech at the opening
of the meeting, conveying his thanks to Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources Fatih Dönmez, who supported them during this troubled period, “Mr.
Minister made legal and administrative arrangements for our mining sector to
survive this difficult process. Some of the financial, administrative and
technical obligations of mine license holders have been postponed until
September 30, and some until December 31st. Producing no tax debt documents was
delayed until September 30. Collection of forest permit fees was stopped for 3
months. All these measures have kept our mining industry afloat. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank our Minister on behalf of all of us.”
Stressing that the effects of the global
economic contraction caused by Covid-19 are still ongoing, Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that the sector needs additional support, given the extent of the damage.
The TOBB President noted that additional
measures are needed regarding taxes, license fees, state rights, financial
burden reduction, for miners to protect their existing employment, to continue
their presence.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that public receivables
should be paid and support that expires at the end of the year should be
extended, “To accelerate investment input, license protection must be
maintained, and permission processes accelerated. Because Covid-19 has once
again highlighted the importance of the three sectors. These are; agriculture
for food safety, health to protect against diseases and mining for the safety
of raw materials needed by our industry. Therefore, we must keep our mining
sector afloat in this process.”
Noting that the Turkish Mining Council
accomplished important works in this direction, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that work
has begun under the leadership of the Ministry on the Mining Law, sector
representatives are active in these efforts, and the public and private sector
is targeted to cooperate fully.
- Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Dönmez
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih
Dönmez also stated that there are many negative impacts on the global economic
markets, especially in March and May, on small, medium and large enterprises have
disrupted somewhat the progress towards general targets.
Minister Dönmez, some general measures were
taken in the energy sector during the epidemic process, stating, “Apart from
these general measures, earthquake-affected Malatya and Elazığ royalty and
license holders should also give reports, such as the project statements to the
end of September, state rights and license fee payments have been extended
until December 28th. We also postponed the requirement for the
submission of extension documents to the General Directorate of Mines and
Petroleum Affairs until the end of the year, 6 months before the extension
period with a decision we signed yesterday. Thus, in line with the developing
conditions, we’ve taken on our share of the burden without hesitation for more
sustainable mining.”
Dönmez emphasized that mining and the
environment are not opposing concepts, “Nature is ours, mines too. It is clear
by law in which areas mining will be done and which institutions will obtain
which permissions for mining activity. In addition, when a mine site is
abandoned, the mine owner is obliged to rehabilitate and reforest that site
according to his project.”
Dönmez underlined that they will not give up
mines or nature with an environmental mining principle, and stressed that
environmental investments should be accurately described.