Türkiye aims to surpass $6B in mine exports, says Energy Minister Bayraktar
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar delivers a speech during the Türkiye Mining Summit held at the Lutfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Dec. 6, 2024. (AA Photo)
Mine exports reached $5.5 billion during the January-November period and are expected to surpass $6 billion by the end of 2024, Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on Friday.
Speaking at the Türkiye Mining Summit in Istanbul, Bayraktar noted that Türkiye possesses 70 out of approximately 90 globally identified types of minerals.
Reminding that Türkiye ranks seventh globally in terms of mineral diversity, Bayraktar said: “We are among the top five in boron, soda ash, gypsum, and chrome. This makes our country and the mining sector a significant hub on the international stage.”
Bayraktar highlighted that the sector’s total economic size had reached ₺270 billion ($7.77 billion) by 2023, adding: “Over the past 22 years, we have increased the share of mining in the gross domestic product (GDP) from 0.06% to 1.4%. However, this figure is insufficient for Türkiye. Our ultimate goal is to raise it to 5%.”
Pointing out overseas exploration activities, Bayraktar shared insights on a gold mining project in Niger, marking 2025 to commence first production.
Minister Bayraktar pointed out that Türkiye maintains a leading role in the global boron market with a share exceeding 60%, holding 73% of the world’s boron reserves.
“In this context, we will achieve a record in 2024 by selling 2.5 million tons of boron products, generating $1.3 billion in revenue, of which 97% will be exported,” he said.
21M trees planted as part of rehabilitation efforts in minefields
Bayraktar emphasized stringent and effective inspections at mining sites and efforts to restore decommissioned mining areas to nature, stating:
In 2023, we conducted 8,828 site inspections, and as of early December, the figure stands at 8,546. By the end of this year, we expect to reach approximately 9,000 inspections. These inspections utilize technologies such as radar, sonar, drones, electronic tracking, and digital warning systems. We are aware that the value we place on our miners will increase production and employment. As part of rehabilitation efforts, 21 million trees have been planted across 9,000 hectares—equivalent to 13,000 football fields—in 45 provinces to date. With the new regulation we plan to implement, we aim to expedite the rehabilitation of areas used for mining activities.
Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Energy
