Decision expected in controversial Cerattepe case today

Turkey's largest environmental case is expected to be finalized today. The case against the opening of a copper mine in the Cerattepe region of northeastern Artvin province has led to mixed reactions in the country.

Some locals in Artvin, guided by the anti-government Green Artvin Association, were against the opening of the mine site. In 2013, the association filed a lawsuit for the cancellation of the environmental impact assessment that had been previously approved. The court said that the company that wanted to construct the site still had to make some arrangements in the project.

In line with the court's decision, the company made the necessary improvements in the project in cooperation with 12 engineers. The new environmental impact assessment was approved by the court in June 2015.

Despite that, the Green Artvin Association again quickly filed a lawsuit for the cancellation of this assessment as well. The association and other activists claimed that tens of thoudands of trees will be destroyed. However, the company has assured people that only 3,500 trees will be cut and it will compensate for them somewhere else. In addition, the association claims that the company will extract gold and use cyanide, which could kill local organic matter. However, the claims have been called "baseless" by the company that said that no such thing will happen. It has assured that it will only extract copper. The hearing today will be about the latest cancellation case.

The construction of the site has led to heavy protests as well. In February 2016, scores of people wanted to march toward the Cerattepe region, who were blocked by the gendermarie forces. After a long-running dispute, the then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu sat down with the representatives of the Green Artvin Association, assuring them that the construction would not kick off until the judicial process has come to an end.

Even though the company currently is allowed to extract from the site by law, it abstained from doing so due to Davutoğlu's pledge to the association.

Speaking to Daily Sabah, authorities from the company said that they showed respect to Davutoğlu's decision. Eti Bakır General Coordinator Ünsal Arkadaş said that "they did not want the tensions in the region to further escalate."

The Green Artvin Association's motives remain unknown. Some extremists leftist groups such as the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-front (DHKP-C), Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) and the PKK terrorist group are believed to have joined forces with the association in protests in February 2016. Even though the group claims that the projects will harm the environment, the company's documents and environmental impact assessments prove the opposite.