In the Varto (Gimgim) district of Muş, approval has been granted for IGNIS H2 Enerji Üretim A.Ş. to begin drilling operations on pasture lands for the purpose of “geothermal resource exploration.” The project, to be carried out within the borders of Xwarik village, foresees the establishment of a geothermal power plant in an area covering 16 Kurdish–Alevi villages. Villagers, whose main livelihood is livestock breeding, say they face the threat of displacement and have reacted strongly to the project.
Speaking to ANF about the issue, DEM Party Muş MP Sümeyye Boz said that pastures in Gimgim cannot be seen as “empty land.”
Boz emphasized that pastures are the fundamental support of livestock farming: “In these lands, pastures are shared living spaces that reduce feed costs for villagers, sustain the herds, and make production possible during harsh winter conditions. When the already limited grazing areas shrink even further, the result is clear: the number of animals decreases, costs rise, and small producers become more vulnerable.”
Pointing out that declining incomes could increase migration, Boz recalled the demographic changes that occurred after the 1966 Gimgim earthquake and said: “We remember how villages were emptied after that earthquake. Poor planning today could trigger a similar process. Migration is not the fate of this region; migration is the result of wrong policies.”
“Water resources and the environment are at risk”
Boz also stressed that geothermal drilling could pose risks to underground water resources. She stated that the transport of heavy metals and the release of hydrogen sulfide gas could negatively affect air quality: “In villages that live from livestock breeding, water is not only drinking water; it is the animals’ water and the basis of production itself. The weakening or contamination of water sources directly means a loss of livelihood. In particular, Varto’s proximity to active fault lines means that the high-pressure injection methods used in geothermal projects may affect micro-seismic movements. The 1966 Varto earthquake left deep marks in the memory of this geography. Planning such an investment near the Karlıova triangle is not an ordinary decision. These risks are real and have been discussed in the literature and documented in examples.”
Boz added that the 16 Kurdish–Alevi villages covered by the project are not merely a geographical area but communities with a strong historical culture of solidarity and collective life.
She continued: “The common pasture is the material foundation of this way of life. If there is no explicit consent from the villagers and independent environmental and seismic impact analyses have not been transparently shared, then this is not only an environmental issue but also a democratic one. Decisions taken in the name of ‘public interest’ for pasture lands are often used in favor of capital. While Pasture Law No. 4342 is based on protecting pastures, in practice the investment schedule takes precedence over the villagers’ right to livelihood. With a single signature, the villagers’ collective usage rights are handed over to corporate logic; the understanding of common property is dismantled and a system in favor of capital is established.”
“Our struggle will continue”
Boz stated that they will continue legal and democratic struggle against the project: “These lands are not an investment item to be distributed at a desk. Defending citizens’ right to livelihood, their pastures, and their water is the responsibility of all of us. Together with our villagers, we will stand against this process. We will not take a single step back until this decision is withdrawn. Because what we are defending here is not only the pasture itself, but justice.”
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