Our country’s first private sector mining enterprise, the Harmancık Chrome Operation, was established in 1955 under the name Hayri Ögelman Ltd. Şti., took the title Hayri Ögelman Madencilik Ltd. Şti. in 1959, and, following a change in company type in 2012, assumed its current name Hayri Ögelman Madencilik A.Ş. In 2020, 86.21% of the shares of Hayri Ögelman Madencilik A.Ş., and in 2022 the remaining 10%, were acquired by CVK Maden İşletmeleri San. ve Tic. A.Ş., making it a 96.21% subsidiary.
Since its founding in 1955, Hayri Ögelman Madencilik A.Ş. has operated in the field of chrome mining. The company holds a total of 10 licensed mining sites, most of which are located in the Bursa region.
The Harmancık Chrome Operation of Hayri Ögelman Madencilik A.Ş. is located approximately 6.5 km northwest of the Harmancık district in Bursa province. The licensed area of 6,306.87 hectares includes underground and surface open-pit mines, administrative buildings and a chrome enrichment (concentrate) plant. A large portion of the run-of-mine ore produced in the underground and open-pit mines consists of high-grade (lumpy) chrome ore, which can be exported directly without processing. Lower-grade chrome ore is processed at the chrome enrichment plant to raise its grade and converted into chrome concentrate, a significant portion of which is exported.
Following the inclusion of the Harmancık Chrome Operation into the Group, capacity expansion works were initiated for the underground mines and the chrome enrichment plant in the region. Through these investments, the underground mines in the area were interconnected by tunnels, increasing run-of-mine ore production. As part of the heavy maintenance and modernization project at the chrome enrichment plant, machinery and equipment were renewed, reaching a daily feed capacity of 1,000 metric tons. After these investments, the underground mines in the region can produce approximately 12,000 metric tons per month of directly saleable lumpy chrome ore, while the renewed chrome enrichment plant can produce about 3,000 metric tons of chrome concentrate monthly.
However, due to the insufficient production of low-grade chrome ore in the existing production areas to continuously feed the enrichment plant, the facility operates intermittently. During shutdown periods, the small amounts of low-grade chrome ore produced in the mines are stockpiled in the plant feed area, and the plant is restarted once sufficient feed quantity is accumulated. New production areas have been planned and permit applications submitted to increase the production of low-grade chrome ore. With these new investments, it is aimed to operate the chrome enrichment plant continuously and to further increase production volumes.
Within the licensed mining area located in the Harmancık district of Bursa province, where the Harmancık Chrome Operation is situated, a significant magnesite ore resource has also been identified and an operating permit has been obtained. According to the "Magnesite Ore UMREK-Coded Resource Report" dated 20.05.2024 prepared by UMREK authorities, the total identified magnesite resource in the area is calculated as 1,977,714 tons. Production of magnesite ore is planned to commence upon completion of the required permitting processes.
In a licensed mining area located in the Tavşanlı district of Kütahya province, near the Harmancık Chrome Operation, a significant coal resource has also been identified. According to the "Coal Mine UMREK-Coded Reserve Report" dated 20.05.2024 prepared by UMREK authorities, the total coal resource in this area is calculated as 616,000 tons, and the measured reserve amount is 260,000 tons. Upon completion of expropriation and permitting processes, the identified coal deposit is planned to be extracted using the surface open-pit mining method.
