Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Studies

Coal mining projects are evaluated under the scope of the EIA Regulation enacted by publication in the Official Gazette No.29186 dated 25th November 2015, considering the size of the project area.

Projects evaluated under the scope of EIA are classified into two groups: The first group projects are the projects with a potential of high contamination, listed in Annex-1. In contrast, the second group projects (listed in Annex-2) have a less environmental impact than the first group projects and are subject to selection and elimination criteria. The projects listed in Annex-1 require EIA Report, while the projects listed in Annex-2 require preparing the Pre-EIA Report and acquiring the necessary EIA approvals.

Coal mining activities performed by surface mining method on an area of more than 150 hectares are subjected to the requirements of Annex-1. In contrast, other surface mining projects carried out on an area less than 150 hectares, underground coal mining activities (regardless of area size), and coal washing plants are subject to the requirements of Annex-2.

According to the related regulation, the application projects approved before 1993, which is the first release date of the EIA Regulation, and the projects already approved under an investment programme or started to production after obtaining mining license before this release date are exempt from EIA. The license areas embodied by TKI are evaluated in this context. EIA processes are initiated for the projects planned to be started following the acquisition of a mining license by TKI. The plants planned to be constructed (coal washing plant, coal bagging plant, etc.), and the required processes are followed up attentively.