Mining safety and environmental concerns top priorities for 2016

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak pointed to "revolutionary" laws regarding Turkey's mining sector, saying that the ministry will present drafts of the Coal Law and the Mining Data Bank to Parliament in the upcoming days. Albayrak shared information about the Coal Law during a speech regarding the ministry's budget for 2016. The minister said that firedamp explosions are the main cause of mine disasters in Turkey, including a mining accident in Zonguldak in 1993 which claimed the lives of 263 miners. "We will drain the methane which leads to firedamp explosions before and during coal production, and use it to contribute to our economy."

According to Albayrak, advanced filtration systems will be implemented in energy projects, namely thermal power plant projects, to minimize negative impacts on the environment. He stated that new energy investments will reduce dependency on foreign resources and maximize the use of domestic and renewable resources, adding "Our first priority is the conformity between investments and the environment." Touching on developments in neighboring countries, the minister underlined that the ministry has satisfied Turkey's need for energy, despite being surrounded by a severe ring of fire.

Albayrak also noted that Turkey's energy demands will double over the next 10 years - pushing the country to invest at least $100 billion in energy during this period. He stressed the crucial importance of creating a reliable and transparent environment for investment in the domestic and international business world, and specifically in the energy sector. Turkey's demand for primary energy sources stood at 123.9 million tons of oil equivalent (TOE) in 2014, and this figure is expected to reach 218 million in 2023.