Over 8,000 Turkish mine sites inspected in 2018

Neşe Karanfil – ANKARA

Turkey’s Energy Ministry inspected 8,088 mine sites in 2018, marking a 24 percent increase compared to the previous year.

A total of 11,095 mines were inspected, said the ministry’s 2018 annual activity report.

In Turkey, mine-related works are based on the risk degree level of the sites.

Within this scope, first level risk-bearing mine sites, labeled blue, are inspected at least once a year, while second level sites are examined at least twice a year.

The most hazardous mine sites, labeled red, are inspected at least four times a year in line with the ministry’s policies.

In order to conduct the works in a more efficient and result-oriented way, some 69 mine, geology and topographical more experts, with experiences of five or more years, were employed in 2017 to inspect the mines. The ministry’s efforts to hire 180 more inspection experts have also been ongoing, the 2018 annual activity report said.

In 2014, some 6,384 mine sites were inspected. The numbers were 6,493, 5,795, and 6,536 respectively in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively.

Turkey has a long and plagued history of mine collapses. The most deadly mining disaster took place in May 2014, killing at least 282 coal miners.

The most recent mine collapse occurred in February in the Aegean province of Muğla’s Milas district, causing the deaths of four miners.