Law Allowing Olive Groves to Be Opened to Mining Passed in Parliament
The controversial bill allowing olive groves to be opened up for mining activities — dubbed the “super permit” by the public — has been passed by the Turkish Parliament. Officially titled the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws, the bill has sparked widespread backlash.
The majority of opponents are farmers and villagers from Muğla, including members of the Akbelen resistance, who have now begun a hunger strike in front of the Parliament.
About Akbelen Forest:
Akbelen Forest is located in the İkizköy neighborhood of Muğla’s Milas district. The forest sits between the Yeniköy and Kemerköy coal-fired power plants and the village of İkizköy, in an area largely surrounded by olive groves. The villagers, who previously resisted efforts to establish a thermal power plant in the area, are known as the Akbelen resistance.
The bill — which includes provisions for the relocation of olive trees and the opening of olive groves to mining — had 19 of its articles passed in recent days. The final two articles were approved in today’s parliamentary session.
Why is the law controversial?
- Mining allowed in olive groves: Under the new law, mining companies will be permitted to explore and extract minerals in olive groves. If no minerals are found, the state will refund the license fee and deposit to the company.
- Displaced landowners offered rental land: Those whose olive groves are expropriated will be given state-owned land to rent.
- Discounts for companies: Mining companies will receive a 30% discount on license fees.
- No penalty for repeat violations: Companies that receive penalties twice in a row will not have their licenses revoked.
- Licenses without confirmed resources: Land with no confirmed underground mineral reserves can still be licensed for exploration.
- Forced expropriation for “strategic” minerals: The state can urgently expropriate land where “critical and strategic” minerals are believed to exist.
- Free exploration in forests: Mining companies will be allowed to search for minerals in forests without paying a fee.
