Responsible Mining Discussed at the 4th Sector-Academic-Student Meeting of the ITU Faculty of Mines

The 4th Sector-Academic-Student Meeting , hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Mining, was held this year with the theme of responsible and sustainable mining. Yeniköy Kemerköy Energy , the gold sponsor of the event, contributed to the sector's sustainable transformation vision and came together with academics, students, and public representatives.

The event, held at the ITU Ayazağa Campus, was attended by MAPEG General Manager Arslan Narin , ITU Faculty of Mines Dean Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kumral , Ankara University Food Safety Institute Director Prof. Dr. Mücahit Taha Özkaya , and Yeniköy Kemerköy Energy Deputy General Manager Burak Işık .

The meeting, held for the fourth time this year, focused on sustainability in mining , green energy transformation , environmental rehabilitation , and science-based production models. Throughout the event, students met one-on-one with industry representatives and learned about internship and career opportunities .

Dean of the ITU Faculty of Mines, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kumral , who hosted the event, made the following assessment:

"There's no life without minerals. However, while extracting these resources, we also need to protect the topsoil. It's incredibly valuable for us to be here today discussing the future of sustainable mining with our students. This gathering of industry, academia, and students will move the future of mining onto a more informed and sustainable foundation."

Yeniköy Kemerköy Energy Deputy General Manager Burak Işık , in his speech, highlighted the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Risk Report , emphasizing that disinformation is one of the biggest threats of the coming period.

There is significant public disinformation regarding olive transportation activities. Olives are a transportable tree. The number of olive trees in Türkiye has nearly doubled in the last 15 years. In such a scenario, claiming that olives are being destroyed does not reflect reality.

Providing information about the olive transportation process, which is carried out using scientific methods, Işık stated that transparency and accountability are among the most important elements of sustainable mining:

In a study led by Ankara University, we relocated 151 olive trees from the mine site using scientific methods and planted 300 new saplings in the same area. The process, overseen by Prof. Dr. Mücahit Taha Özkaya, has progressed with zero waste to date. Furthermore, the Turkish Nature Conservation Association will transparently monitor and report on the process on behalf of all stakeholders.

Addressing the public's misperceptions about mining sites, Işık emphasized that the concepts of "mining license area" and "excavation area" are often confused:

"Claims that villages in Milas will be destroyed are unfounded. Our excavation area only accounts for 3.7 percent of our licensed mining area. There is no possibility of displacing the local population."

Burak Işık concluded his remarks by stating that sustainable mining is a process that begins before the mine is opened and continues after it is closed:

Every scientific data shared here today is a response to disinformation. Mining can be sustainable in harmony with the ecosystem when conducted under the guidance of science. My message to young engineering candidates is: never give up on the light of science, transparency, and accountability.

The 4th Sector-Academic-Student Meeting provided a strong platform for industry stakeholders on social awareness, environmentally compatible production, and responsible communication in mining. At the end of the event, students emphasized that sustainability awareness in mining is only possible through accurate information sharing.

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