Minister Bayraktar: We have cancelled 97,000 mining licenses

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar answered questions and criticisms from MPs during discussions on his ministry's 2026 budget in the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Planning and Budget Commission.

Bayraktar stated that Türkiye is still a net importer of minerals, but that it holds the world's seventh largest mineral wealth. Emphasizing that keeping minerals underground contributes nothing to the economy, Bayraktar continued: "The Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a historic mining law this year. When drafting the law, we emphasized the need to make investments attractive. We've almost doubled the budget for the rehabilitation of mining sites. Gold prices have reached a point where they exceed $4,000. We've increased the state's right to gold to 25 percent. If you're going to operate a gold mine in Türkiye, whether domestic or foreign, you'll have to pay 31.25 percent—almost one-third—of the gold you produce as state right. I want to emphasize that this is a highly significant regulation when you consider its contribution to employment."

"THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND MINING LICENSES"

Minister Bayraktar emphasized that criticisms that all of Türkiye has been turned into a mining area are untrue, saying, "We have ensured the cancellation of approximately 97,000 licenses. There are only 8,000 licenses, and the quarry area being excavated across Turkey is only 1 per thousand, or 783 square kilometers."

Türkiye's Nuclear Target

Bayraktar stated that nuclear energy is a key resource for achieving climate goals. Alparslan Bayraktar stated that criticisms that no developed country is investing in nuclear energy are false, saying: "There's Metsamor in eastern Türkiye, within walking distance of Armenia. There's also a nuclear power plant in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. Nuclear energy is in the heart of Europe, in France, in the heart of Paris, providing 75% of France's electricity needs. There are no risks in the approximately 416 reactors worldwide. Unfortunately, when we attempt to do this, it becomes a risk. Will there be uranium dependency? Yes. We are in discussions regarding fuel, both with the country we're currently working with and with the countries we're currently discussing new projects with, to overcome uranium dependency."

"WE WILL BE IN THE TOP 5 IN RARE EARTH ELEMENTS"

Emphasizing that Türkiye began its studies on rare earth elements in 2011, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Bayraktar said, "We have identified 694 million tons of rare earth elements in Beylikova, and we have been saying for years: 'We will be among the top five countries in the world in rare earth elements.' We are working towards this. We intend to establish a pilot facility for this."

Regarding allegations that rare earth elements produced by Türkiye were sold to the US, Bayraktar said, "We did not give rare earth elements to the US. We made an agreement regarding nuclear power. If there were anything related to rare earth elements, we would announce it. There is nothing to be afraid of."

The 2026 budgets of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources , the Energy Market Regulatory Authority, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs, and the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency were approved in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey's Planning and Budget Commission.