Bill to open olive groves to mining is in Parliament

The regulation, which allows the opening of olive groves to mining, with the bill signed by the AKP deputies and presented yesterday to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, returned to enter the parliament’s agenda. The regulation in question had caused controversy before and its execution was stopped by the Council of State.

The Bill to Reform the Electricity Market Law and Some Laws and Decree Law No. 375 with 29 signatures were presented to the Assembly Presidency.

The bill included regulations that could open olive groves to mining. In addition, contract periods of less than 49 years, signed with the privatization of some ports, will be extended up to 49 years.

In the new regulation, a transitory article was added to the Mining Law No. 3213 and it was foreseen that olive groves could be opened to mining.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE OFFER

In the justification of the proposal, reference was made to the growing need for electrical energy in the country with the new economic and social developments. Emphasis was placed on the objective of meeting this need primarily from domestic sources.

In the justification it was stated that “the procedures and principles to which mining activities will be adjusted in a balanced way and without loss of olive groves are regulated.”

In the article, it was indicated that if the mining activities coincide with the olive groves, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources may allow the transport of the olive groves giving priority to the limits of the district and province where the mining sites are located. located, and carry out mining activities in these areas.

In the article, it was also indicated that in cases where it is not possible to transport the olive grove, mining activities can take place according to the opinions of experts, including biologists and agricultural engineers. In addition, it was indicated that it is mandatory to establish an olive grove equivalent to the area where the activities will be carried out in said areas.

IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE

Previously, the “Regulation to Modify the Mining Regulation” was published in the Official Gazette on March 1 and received the reaction of many sectors. The execution of the relevant article was stopped by the Council of State as illegal.