Dear Participant

In the news article published on 05.10.2023 in Yeni Asır Newspaper with the title ‘Çiğli'de Büyük Çevre Skandalı’ (Big Environmental Scandal in Çiğli), it was stated that an intense pollution and white layer was formed in the wetland area next to the section where the factories are located between the ring road and the sea within the borders of İzmir Atatürk Organised Industrial Zone, that small and cattle breeders in this area store their manure in the open, that there are many businesses in the area from tube storage to scrap dealers and that it was determined that rubble was poured into the area.

The news published in Yeni Asır Newspaper, which we have shared in Annex 1, does not reflect the current situation. The current photograph of the specified area taken by the officials of Izmir Governorship Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change on 06 October 2023 Friday is presented in Annex 2. As can be seen in this current photograph, the white layer in the photograph included in the news text is currently absent. The photograph in the newspaper is from last year and the white layer is the salt layer left after the evaporation of sea water. In the news text of the newspaper, there are statements that arouse suspicion in minds about the industrial facilities in IAOSB discharging wastewater to this area. It is not possible for the industrial establishments in our region to discharge wastewater to this area directly or in any way within the infrastructure system of IAOSB.In the analyses performed by IAOSB Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratory, a high level of salt was detected in the puddle in this area, which proves that the puddle is sea water. IAOSB Management acts in accordance with all environmental legislation. The Wastewater Treatment Plant of our Zone has been operating continuously 24/7 since 1993 and ensures that domestic and process wastewater generated in all factories operating in IAOSB is collected through the sewerage network and treated in a way that does not harm the environment. It is continuously monitored through the Continuous Wastewater Monitoring System (CWMS) approved by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate. In addition to all these, as an indicator of our Region's sensitivity to environmental issues, studies on the recycling of the wastewater discharged from the Wastewater Treatment Plant in accordance with the discharge criteria and offering it to the companies in our Region as process water are being carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology as a project financed by the World Bank.

The issues of small and cattle breeders storing their manure in the open, the fact that there are many businesses in the region from tube storage to scrap dealers and the dumping of rubble in the region are not within the responsibility and authority of our Regional Management.

Regarding the untrue news in the aforementioned newspaper, the legal process has been initiated by our Regional Management and an application has been made to the relevant court for determination. I kindly request your information on the subject.

Sincerely yours,

Cenk KARACE
Izmir Atatürk Organised Industrial Zone
Chairman of the Board of Directors

ANNEX 1) News article titled ‘Çiğli'de Büyük Çevre Skandalı’ published in Yeni Asır Newspaper dated 05.10.2023,
ANNEX 2) The current photograph of the area in question taken on 06.10.2023 by the authorities of Izmir Governorship Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change,