Eti Bakır Develops R&D Project with TÜBİTAK

Eti Bakır Develops R&D Project with TÜBİTAK Eti Bakır, which continues its operations with a focus on sustainability, has implemented an R&D project developed with Artvin Çoruh University and TÜBİTAK aimed at advancing environmentally responsible production. Through this project, which is an important indicator of university-industry cooperation, the goal is to rehabilitate land optimally and return it to forest use. Eti Bakır, which is pioneering a zero-carbon journey in the mining sector and working to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% within the next five years, continues its investments in environmentally responsible production. Taken over from the Privatization Administration in 2004 and beginning operations under the Cengiz Holding umbrella, Eti Bakır has invested over USD 2 billion in the last 20 years in mining technologies, infrastructure and R&D innovations, as well as in reducing its carbon and water footprint. The company has now implemented an important project for the environmentally responsible rehabilitation of mining areas. The 18-month R&D project, conducted through Eti Bakır's cooperation with Artvin Çoruh University and supported by TÜBİTAK's Technology and Innovation Support Programs Directorate (TEYDEB), encompasses the use of special plants for soil remediation in mining regions. Results obtained from work using sesame, sunflower, poplar and birch plants served as reference for these plants in optimal soil rehabilitation.

First Time in Mining

Yusuf Topçu, Environmental Director at Eti Bakır, said that Eti Bakır, which produces from ore to final product in Turkey and single-handedly supplies 20% of copper production, thus adding value to the economy, also sets an example globally with its sustainability vision. Pointing out that sustainable business models have become widespread in global companies over the last 20 years and play a critical role in production, Topçu continued: "Through the circular economy, we are contributing to the world's zero-carbon journey by improving our own processes. We are implementing numerous environmentally responsible initiatives ranging from waste management to afforestation, from water and energy efficiency to reducing carbon emissions. Now we have taken this one step further and implemented an important R&D project. With the support of Artvin Çoruh University, TÜBİTAK and TEYDEB, we have set a precedent in Turkey's mining sector. Through this project, we have identified plants that accelerate soil rehabilitation and deliver the most definitive solutions. The work conducted has shown us that these plants make significant contributions to the purification and improvement of metals in soil. Rehabilitation work to be carried out in Artvin will now be conducted in accordance with our project. Thus we will rehabilitate our mining areas in the most proper manner and return them to forest use. We plan to implement this project, which we initiated first in Artvin, in other regions where our other operations are located in the coming period." he said.