Foundation and Purpose

The characteristics of the region where Turkey located, as well as the lands in its territory from Anatolia to Eastern Thrace, have been conducive to the development of agriculture, as well as the formation of a variety of ore deposits.

Throughout history, these deposits have been exploited by inhabitants of the region. Many civilizations that occupied these lands engaged in mining since antiquity. According to historical records, it is known that the Sumerians, the Assyrians and the Urartu in the Southeast Anatolia and the Hittites in the Central and Eastern Anatolia had carried out first mining activities, and the Hittites had reached advanced levels in iron processing. It is also known that the Lydians operated gold mines around the Sardes region in the Southwest Anatolia and minted the first coins. Silver and gold mines in Binkılıç (Strandzha) mountains in the north of Thrace were the primary reasons behind Alexander the Great’s wealth and his ability to sustain a vast army.

Remnants of copper, gold and silver mines established during Roman and Byzantine rule are still found in the Black Sea region and many parts of Anatolia. Remnants of thousands of tonnes of slag in the mountain ridge along the Black Sea coastline and in other parts of Turkey are the prime evidences for ancient mining activities in these regions. There were various mining enterprises in these regions during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, as well. The most important of these were the Elazığ Ergani Copper Mine, Artvin Murgul and Kuvarshan Copper Mines, Kastamonu Küre Copper Mines, Balıkesir Balya Karaaydın Silvery Lead Mines and Susurluk Boracite (Pandermite) Mine, which were operational until recent times.

Turkish state began to assign importance to mining activities in the mid-1930s, which led to the establishment of Etibank and the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute. However, the development of the industry lagged behind, and efforts to attract private capital mostly failed, partly due to the outbreak of the World War II.

Nevertheless, despite the war, some foreign enterprises that had been operating since the later periods of the Ottoman Empire continued their operations in Turkey. The mining industry’s development, however, was further hampered by a variety of problems such as the challenges brought about by the war, international political disputes, transportation difficulties, shortage of capital, and inadequate legislation. Under these circumstances, the near impossibility of exports and the policy positions of certain foreign companies and enterprises curbed the competitive ability of Turkish ore in foreign markets, which were often sold as run-of-the-mine or concentrate.

Based on the understanding of Turkey’s great potential for mining and its likely contribution to the country’s development if realized efficiently, the state established the “Chromium Producers Committee” (which was an association exclusive to chromium producers) under the guidance of the then “Etibank”, which paved the way for the “Turkish Miners Association” as an umbrella association for all miners in 1948.

PURPOSE

The charter of the association, which had the leading mining producers of Turkey of the time, stated that it was established to “organize Turkish mining at the national level and unite individual expertise and efforts into a consistent drive.” The key points of the statement are national organization and unification of expertise and efforts. The goals of the association were to establish cooperation across the country, bring about the advancement of mining by combining knowledge and labor, ensure solidarity for higher competitiveness in international markets, and ultimately, contribute to the development of Turkey.

To achieve these goals (as laid down in its charter), the association considers the following as its main activities:

To engage in efforts that will promote and develop mining in Turkey and enhance the bonds and solidarity among its members, 

To further the expertise of its members through continuous research and observations on technical and economic development of the mining industry, 

To review domestic regulations that govern mining and propose amendments to authorities as deemed necessary by technical and economical necessities,

To follow, advocate, and publish through all available channels the ideas that will help advance its goals,

To gather information about foreign and global mining activities and share such information with related parties, 

To communicate with relevant parties the production volumes, sales prices and conditions in the mining industry as well as novelties and advances in mining by keeping abreast of global economic and commercial conditions, 

To conduct studies that will support and secure priority to mining industry in overall supply and procurement efforts, transportation, tariffs, general railroads and sea routes, and port procedures,

To undertake investigations that will facilitate the acquisition of technical staff, funds, production tools and auxiliary materials required by mining enterprises,

To follow the activities of mining enterprises and provide information to its members to ensure that their activities are in accordance with the interests of the country and the overall mining industry,

To organize and participate in professional and technical meetings, publish material and conduct relevant activities to ensure the development of the country’s mining sector, the primary goal of the association, and to assist Turkish mining in taking its deserved place in the world.

FOUNDERS

The founding members of the association, who came together for the above-stated purposes were the following 11;

1. – Etibank, on behalf of its affiliated enterprises. Below is a brief description of Etibank, both at the time of the association’s founding and today: At the time of the association’s founding, Etibank had three main areas of activity: Mining enterprises (Mining), Smelting Plants (Metallurgy) and Banking. Turkish Coal Enterprises, Zonguldak Hard Coal Enterprises, Garp Lignite (Tavşanlı Lignite Operations - Soma Lignite Operations) were originally affiliates of Etibank before their reorganization into an independent company under the name “Turkish Coal Enterprises”. The copper producers in the Black Sea Region (such as Murgul Copper Enterprises and Samsun Copper Smelting Enterprises) soon followed, as they hived off from Etibank under the name of “Black Sea Copper Enterprises” (KBI) and subsequently privatized. Seydişehir Aluminum Enterprise split up, followed by Kütahya Silver Enterprises, Ergani Copper Mine Enterprises, Kastamonu-Küre Copper Enterprise, Eastern Chromium Enterprises (including Guleman Mines and Elazığ Ferrochromium Plants, Muğla-Üçköprü Chrome Mines and Antalya Ferrochromium Plants), and Ödemiş Halıköy Mercury Mine were all separated and privatized. In addition, Etibank also controlled many other mines, small and large; these were either closed or privatized as well. The banking business unit also broke off and privatized. Etibank’s name also underwent changes over time. At one stage, the company was renamed into “Eti Holding” and then to “Eti Mining Enterprises”. Today, the only mining activities of the company are the state-operated boron salt mines operated by the state in four regions under the name of “Eti Boron Enterprises”. These are Kırka, Bigadiç, Emet and Kestelek mines. In addition, there is a boron enrichment plant in Emet, and boric acid and borax plants in Kırka and Bandırma. As per the Law of 1986, which mandated state enterprises to cut all ties with associations, Eti Mining Enterprises is no longer associated with the Turkish Miners Association.

2. - On behalf of the Turkish Chromium Producers, Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Chromium Producers Committee General Selahattin Adil (Pasha) The Turkish Chromium Producers Committee is an organization comprised entirely of chromium producers that predates the Turkish Miners Association. There had been numerous cases of collaboration between the committee and our association. The committee has since been dissolved. General Selahaddin Adil was one of the highly-successful generals who fought in the Battle of Sakarya. Adil owned chromium mines around Alpu in the Eskişehir province.

3. - On behalf of the Lignite Producers’ Association, senior mining engineer Nadir Hakkı Önen Nadir Hakkı Önen was the owner of major lignite enterprises in the district of Soma in the Manisa province. These coal mines were nationalized at a later date.

4. - On behalf of Fethiye Şirket-i Madeniyesi T.A.Ş., senior mining engineer Reşit Osman Gencer Fethiye Mining Company (Fethiye Şirket-i Madeniyesi) was a foreign-invested (mostly French) enterprise that operated chromium mines in Muğla and a chromium concentrator in Karagedik near the district of Fethiye. Reşit Gencer served as the Turkish director of the company. He was also the first general manager of the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (1935-1939). Reşit Gencer also served as the Chairman of the Turkish Miners Association for many years.

5. - On behalf of Maadin Arama ve İşletme Şirketi, attorney at law Kemal Onurad “Maadin” is the Ottoman plural of the Turkish word for mine, which originated from Arabic. The name of this company later became “Kemad Mining” (Kemad Madencilik). Kemal Onurad also served the Chairman of the Turkish Chromium Producers’ Committee for years.

6. - Senior mining engineer Hadi Yener Hadi Yener was General Manager of Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (1939-1944). He was the long-standing technical advisor to our association before becoming chairman, a position he held for many years.

7. - On behalf of Özdemir Antimuan Madenleri Ltd. Şti., merchant Ragıp Özdemiroğlu Ragıp Özdemiroğlu owned important antimony mines in the district of Turhal in Tokat. These mines, having ceased and resumed their operations a number of times in the past, are still operational today, albeit under control of another company.)

8. - On behalf of Türk Maadin A.Ş., attorney at law Hamit Karaorman Established with foreign investment in 1916, Türk Maadin A.Ş. is still active today. In general, the company’s main focus is on chromium production.

9. - Senior mining engineer Canik Verter Canik Verter operated a lead mine in Anamur as partners with Vehbi Koç and Mehmet Karamancı.

10. - On behalf of Orhan Brant ve Şürekâsı Krom Komandit Şirketi, merchant Orhan Brant Orhan Brant was a merchant and exporter, mainly engaged in the production and export of chromium.

11. On behalf of Kromit Şirketi, merchant Oğuz Akal Kromit was a major producer and exporter of chromium in Turkey until the mid-1970s. Oğuz Akal was one of the owners of the company.

REVENUES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

The main source of revenue of the association was membership fees and the relative charge deducted from export prices against registrations.

The association played an active role in the enactment of the Mining Law No. 6309, which was the first mining law after the Statute of Mining (Maadin Nizamnamesi).

The association also:

Extended scholarship opportunities for the students of the Faculty of Mines of the Istanbul Technical University,

Provided moral and material support to the foundation of the Chamber of Mining Engineers,

Contributed to the development of the Turkish mining sector by cooperating with relevant ministries, general directorates, as well as the Department of Mines (Directorate General of Mining since 1993).

Helped its members in overcoming obstacles and bureaucratic challenges related to mining exports.

With the enactment of the Mining Law No. 3213 in 1985, Turkish mining has undergone significant changes, bringing about a considerable boost in domestic and foreign private investments.

However, since 1986, the association’s revenues have been on the decrease, with the transferring of registration authority to the newly established Mining Exporters Associations. Since then, the Turkish Miners Association’s only sources of revenue are membership subscription fees and donations.

The association continues its operation, funded by the subscription fees from public and private-sector members.