We’re tired of saying the same things, and those who cause these tragedies haven’t. When the Soma disaster occurred in 2014, as the founder of TİDER (Basic Needs Association), one of the most dedicated NGOs, I wrote about our actions on the ground. I’m sharing it again as a reminder: https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/soma-faciasi-ve-ilk-kalkinma-projemiz
In this article, I will delve into the root of the problem and offer solutions. Because nothing has been done to fundamentally solve this problem, the same depressing and disgraceful mining accidents recur periodically. The coal mine disaster in Bartın is a continuation of hundreds of previous accidents. Let’s recall what happened (excerpt from Wikipedia):
On 14 October 2022, at 6:15 PM Turkish time (GMT+3), an explosion occurred at a mine belonging to the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise Amasra Enterprise Directorate in the Amasra district of Bartın. A fire broke out hours later. At the time of the explosion, there were approximately 110 workers in the mine, and approximately half of them were at a depth of 300 meters. According to a statement by Bartın Governor Nurtaç Aslan, five people were trapped below 350 meters and 44 below 300 meters after the explosion. 58 workers escaped by their own efforts, 11 were rescued by search and rescue teams, and 41 died. Rescue efforts ended on 15 October because no one was trapped under the rubble.
On the day of the incident, the Bartın Governor’s Office announced that the accident was caused by a firedamp explosion.
Indirect Massacre
Some might think this way. “A gas explosion, my dear. What can anyone do about natural disasters? After all, if such a death is destined, it is God’s will. There’s nothing left to do but pray for mercy for the dead and patience for their families.”
And I say this. This isn’t fate, it’s an indirect massacre. I say indirect because no one intentionally wanted to kill the mineworkers. However, all the work done and left undone, the flawed nature of the system culminated in the murder of these workers. No single party is to blame here; all parties involved in the corrupt system we find ourselves in are to blame. Lack of vision, greed, incompetence, a lack of understanding of human values, and desperation have led to this massacre.
Let’s first identify the problem and then share the solutions.
The Problem…
1) The continued desire to exploit, and therefore extract, coal.
2) The private sector’s focus on profit, and therefore, to maximize profits, it pursues the most cost-effective extraction of coal at all costs (Alp Gürkan and his son Can Gürkan were the owners of the Soma mine, while Mehmet Hattat is the owner of the mine in Bartın. Both family-owned companies approached coal mining solely focused on profit-making). To help you visualize, you can see below how a coal mine in Germany operates to high standards, while a similar coal mine in Turkey operates at low costs and without any standards:
3) Public oversight is very weak.
4) Miners, struggling under economic conditions and struggling to support their families, continue mining at the risk of their lives.
What needs to be done…
As for what needs to be done next, let me share my thoughts.
1) Coal should be banned
Coal is the worst energy source in terms of carbon emissions. It is one of the primary contributors to the climate change we are experiencing today. When we burn fossil fuels that have formed underground for millions of years, the carbon released is deadly. Coal not only causes permanent damage to the people living where it’s burned (especially in their lungs) but also contributes to climate change because it releases an incredible amount of carbon. Consider that millions of people burn this carbon every day, especially during the winter months, and this continues for hundreds of years. The current state of the world shouldn’t be surprising. We’re talking about the most disgusting form of energy, causing problems like climate change, rising temperatures, oceans rising, desertification, and increased disasters, accelerating this process that will lead to the end of humanity. Unfortunately, the number of countries phasing out coal is negligible, and the number of countries pledging to phase out coal is very small compared to the total number of countries. On this occasion, I would like to list the European countries that have phased out coal and have made commitments to do so (see: https://tr.euronews.com/2021/06/30/avrupa-da-komurden-c-kma-taahhudu-veren-ulke-say-s-16-ya-yukseldi ):
- Coal-free European countries: Belgium (2016), Austria (2020), Sweden (2020)
- European countries that will phase out coal by 2025: Portugal (end of 2021), France (2022), United Kingdom (2024), Hungary (2025), Italy (2025), Ireland (2025), Greece (2025).
- European countries that will phase out coal by 2030: North Macedonia (2027), Denmark (2028), Finland (mid-2029), Netherlands (end of 2029), Slovakia (2030), Spain (2030).
It’s heartbreaking that a mineral whose exploitation is dangerous in every respect is still being encouraged in our country, let alone banned. All coal mines need to be closed, and immediately. Then, we would have fundamentally solved the problem of coal mining accide
2) Mining Permits
Speaking of banning coal mining, we need to address all other minerals as well. The main criteria for mining permits should be as follows:
- a) The mineral to be mined must not harm the environment, and it must be extracted in a way that does not harm the environment.
- b) The people extracting the mineral must work to the highest occupational safety standards.
- c) The mining company or its executives must not have any criminal records for polluting the environment. If such an offense is committed, it should first be a warning, and if it persists, the license should be revoked immediately.
- d) The mining company or its executives must not have any criminal records related to occupational safety. If such an offense is committed, it should first be a warning, and if it persists, the license should be revoked immediately.
3) Ensuring Merit in the Public Sector
The issuance and inspection of mining permits must be meticulously handled only by experts in the field. Processes related to these matters must be designed to be 100% transparent and leave no room for corruption. Furthermore, the private sector should be unaware of who will issue these permits and inspections, and everything should be done through a digital system, without the knowledge of public sector employees. Those who meet the criteria can obtain the necessary permits, and if they perform their jobs properly, they can extract the minerals that humanity needs and that do not cause harm.
4) Robots Should Take Over Mining
Mining should not be outsourced to humans. In a future where blue-collar jobs will disappear, these routine tasks, which carry life-threatening risks, should be handled by robots, and the management of these robots should be handled by trained personnel. With mining, we must abandon traditional methods and utilize the benefits of technology. Rest assured, robots will be used with similar techniques in the future to extract minerals from asteroids or other planets.
5) Fair trials for those responsible for past accidents
It is essential that those responsible for all mining accidents, including those in Soma and Bartın, receive fair trials. To achieve this, establishing the rule of law and imposing fair trials and uncompromising penalties on all those responsible for these disasters will prevent future mistakes.
I hope that these words I have written will one day be considered and put into practice. On this occasion, I pray for God’s mercy upon the miners who lost their lives in Bartın and offer patience to their families. I hope that the necessary steps will be taken for a more just and livable world.
Tag: memoir
