Alamos Gold to file $1 billion investment treaty claim against Turkey

Canadian mining company Alamos Gold will sue Turkey for $1 billion for an investment treaty claim on grounds of “unfair and inequitable treatment.” The Canadian miner had halted construction work at Kaz Mountains in western Turkey in October 2019, after the mining concessions expired and amid protests against the project.

Tuesday April 20 2021 03:24 pm

A protester is seen marching on Kaz Mountains as part of demonstrations against Alamos Gold in the summer of 2019.

Reuters

Canadian mining company Alamos Gold said on April 20 that its Netherlands units will file an investment treaty claim exceeding $1 billion against Turkey for “unfair and inequitable treatment” with its gold mining project.

Alamos, which has had an active presence in Turkey since 2010, said the claim that will be filed under the Netherlands-Turkey Bilateral Investment Treaty represents the value of its Turkish assets.

The Canadian miner had halted construction work at Kaz Mountains in western Turkey in October 2019, after the mining concessions expired and amid protests against the project.

Thousands of Turks, including opposition lawmakers, had protested against Alamos' mine, accusing the company of using cyanide to extract gold and contaminating the soil and water of a nearby dam.

Alamos said on April 20 that the government has failed to grant a routine renewal of its mining licenses in the 18 months since expiry, despite the company having met all legal and regulatory requirements for the renewal.

"The failure to renew the company's mining licenses will result in the loss of over a half a billion dollars in future economic benefits to the Republic of Turkey, including tax and other revenues, and thousands of jobs within Turkey," Alamos said.

Alamos said it has along with the subsidiaries invested more than $250 million in Turkey, unlocked over a billion dollars worth of project value, and contributed over $20 million in royalties, taxes and forestry fees to the Turkish government.