Possible effects of mining zone regulation on mining companies in Turkey & evaluation of mining companies

Land conflicts with mining areas can occur frequently. The fact that these conflicts occur in metropolitan cities brings some sensitive problems and the necessity to make arrangements in the sustainable solution of these problems. For example, the need for aggregates is higher in metropolitan cities than in other cities. In addition, production from aggregate reserves in metropolitan cities requires more precise planning. In recent years, as a result of the increasing population in Istanbul in Turkey, housing has increased and thus the boundaries of the municipal plans have expanded. As a result, aggregate production sites and settlements have been intertwined when the places that were not planned as settlements in the development plan before were also within the boundaries of the development plan. This necessitates sustainable planning and management of aggregate resources in the nearby areas that meet the needs of the city within the borders of Istanbul. In this framework, the first mining zone application in Turkey was made for aggregate mines in Cebeci, Istanbul. This regulation can be applied not only for these aggregate mining zone in Istanbul but also for some mineral groups including coal mines in the future. It is the first practice in the world to force mining companies to unite. This envisaged regulation will affect the mining companies in terms of license and investment security through the merger of the mining companies/establishment of new companies and the determination criteria of the mineral reserve amounts that will be effective in determining the company partnership shares. In 2018, using the “SurveyMonkey” program, companies were asked questions about these effects of mining zones to mining companies. Considering the answers received, the problems that may arise in the implementation of the mining zone regulation were stated and suggestions for solutions were brought to these problems. •Effects of the mining zone regulation on the mining companies in terms of license and investment security were explained.•Forcing mining companies to merge is a rare example in the world.•Evaluations of mining companies in Turkey were taken according to different mineral groups.•It was explained how company partnership shares were determined by taking into consideration the mineral reserves.•Solution suggestions were made to prevent mining companies from being aggrievement.