Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking at the meeting organized via video conference, underlined that energy, mining, LPG, natural gas and oil sectors with their high added value and employment capacities, are Turkey's locomotives, stating, “At the same time, from production to logistics, from service to agriculture, supplying raw materials, providing continuity of other sectors, they are strategic sectors. In this difficult time, we see this again. These sectors have never closed. They did not stop working to ensure that production and supply chain would not be disrupted.”

Noting that Energy and Natural Resources Minister Dönmez took the initiative to begin work on many issues concerning the sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “A number of postponements and conveniences were provided in the permitting and license fees and processes in our mining sector. Government shares payments to be paid to the government for oil exploration and production sectors have been postponed. I would like to express our gratitude to our Minister for providing us with all these opportunities. We also have pending and demands which have not yet been finalized. In particular, an arrangement is required in the YEKDEM mechanism, we demand a review of costs for our manufacturing producers and a 1-year extension of the benefit period from YEKDEM for our energy producing companies.”

- Minister Dönmez

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez stated that TOBB is one of the most important milestones on the road to tomorrow for Turkey, stressing that the main factor in the Union's strengthening and continuing on its path is due to its importance to consultation.

Dönmez underlined that Turkey is one of the countries which has managed the epidemic process best, “The measures taken with the understanding that people come first, even if they slowed down our production, did not stop it - unlike all over the world. As Turkey, we continue our way with determination, even in the process of pandemics, even if it is severe. I would like to thank our business world for the fortitude it has shown in this process.”

Minister Dönmez pointed out that the balance of production and consumption in Turkey has changed, and said this situation reduces electricity usage along with the production of factories.

Dönmez reminded that there is a special interest in mining due to the difficulty of working conditions during the outbreak, and many steps were taken from day one with public and private sector cooperation.

Noting that a series of measures were implemented rapidly in order to insure that sector representatives come out of the process with little damage and much experience, Dönmez, stated that by postponing state rights and license fee payments to the end of 2020, they’ve made sure that companies can breathe easier in regards to their budgets.

Dönmez, noting that statements such as review report, search project, activity report and business project were also postponed to the end of September - stressed that steps have been taken for more sustainable mining in line with emerging conditions.