ELBISTAN - Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA) Director General Mehmet Uzer said MTA has located 732 million tonnes of new coal reserves during the explorations carried out in Afsin - Elbistan region in southeastern city of Kahramanmaras.
Mehmet Uzer said these reserves were located by the technical personnel sent to the region in 2006.
Uzer stated that they have made a total amount of 40,000 meter drilling in Afsin - Elbistan region, and they found coal reserves even in places which were said to have no coal.
Uzer stressed that the new mineral law in Turkey makes the bureaucratic procedures easier for enterprises continued. "We located 800 million tonnes of new coal reserves in addition to those that are already known. 732 million tonnes of this reserve is in Afsin - Elbistan region. We are working on detailed reports featuring the quality and depth of the coal."
Uzer pointed out that due to its complicated geologic structure Turkey has varied underground resources, adding "thanks to that the country can meet a significant portion of its need for raw material." MTA DG asserted that Turkey is ranked the 28th in terms of total production value, and 10th in terms of material variety in the world`s underground resources.