Approval has been granted to the American company IGNIS H2 Energy Production Joint Stock Company to conduct “drilling activities within the scope of a geothermal resource exploration project” in Varto (Gimgim). The first drilling operation of the project, which is expected to affect 16 Kurdish Alevi villages in the region, is scheduled to begin in May.
The company will carry out its activities on 5,560.13 square meters of a pasture-designated area with a total surface area of 453,494.83 square meters, seeking these resources within the villagers’ grazing lands. Villagers have rejected the project, which is planned to proceed with a decision stating that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), referred to in Turkey as an “EIA Not Required” determination, was granted without informing the local population. In response, people originating from Varto have taken to the streets in Kurdistan, Turkey, and across Europe to protest the project.
Villagers stated that the proposed project would affect both living beings and the demographic structure of the region, emphasizing that the district, which has continuously experienced migration due to earthquakes, unemployment, and political reasons, is now at risk of being depopulated. Gürsel Taş, who was forced to migrate from his village in the 1980s due to political reasons and later returned to sustain his livelihood through agriculture and livestock farming, is one of the many residents of Varto who have experienced every stage of this displacement. Gürsel Taş said that the project would render homes, religious sites, and grazing lands unusable, and he currently lives in the village of Içmeler (Regasan) in the district of Varto.
Returned to his land and began livestock farming
Gürsel Taş emphasized that livestock farming and haymaking are the only sources of livelihood for people living in a region crossed by fault lines. Due to unemployment and political reasons, he remained away from his village and homeland for many years. As conditions improved, he returned to his village, built a home, and began livestock farming. Taş now fears that this project will once again change his life and force him into displacement. Gürsel Taş said that the state has subjected the local population to oppression since the 1980s and that this oppression continues today through companies. Taş shared his life story and his demands as a resident of Varto in an interview with ANF.
Exile took years from my life
Gürsel Taş summarized his story with the following words: “From the day of the 12 September coup until today, the state’s oppression has always weighed on us. After those coup days, I was still very young when I was forced to leave here for Istanbul. I left, but I never forgot my homeland and my land. They were always on my mind. I spent every day with the hope of returning. I could never feel at home in exile. The thought of living there for the rest of my life never crossed my mind. After staying there for about 15 years, I returned to my own land. As soon as I arrived, I began livestock farming, which became our source of income. For years, I have survived on the bare minimum. I said that as long as I could live on my own land, I would rather go hungry. But these lands have never left us hungry. From now on, I will never leave here again.”
We would rather die here with dignity than migrate to cities
Gürsel Taş said that the project would only enrich companies and would not benefit villagers like himself who make a living from traditional rural livelihoods. Taş also said:“They are now trying to establish a geothermal project. As I mentioned, many of our people were forced to migrate after the 12 September coup, and the state is now attempting to displace those who remain through this geothermal initiative. We do not want such a thing to happen. Where would we go if we were forced to migrate again? If I am to die, I will die here. Rather than migrating and suffering in exile, rather than dying a little every day, I would die here once and with dignity. We will not abandon our homeland or our village.”
We will protect our land and water against the project
Taş warned that the project would not be limited to 16 villages and would also affect surrounding settlements. He said: “We can already see from social media and the news that such projects begin in a small area and then expand to cover the entire region. Once the project expands, no one will be able to oppose it. We must stand against this project before it even begins. If it is implemented, our living spaces will disappear and everything will be poisoned. It will contaminate all that we have: our land, our flowers, our roses, our grass, our water, and our animals.”
The resistance must grow
Taş also called on the people of Varto to maintain their sensitivity and strengthen solidarity against the project. He said: “Our people of Varto are very sensitive about this issue, and I hope this awareness continues. We have paid a heavy price so far, and from now on I trust our people. Our community living abroad is also providing strong support, and they should continue to do so. We want this support to increase. Everyone should keep supporting us so that we can further strengthen this solidarity and resistance.”
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