Minering in Van From the Ottoman Period to the Republic
Period

Anatolia’s mining history began very long ago. The working of
the mines in the Van and its environs where located in the eastern part
of Anatolia is also based on the old age. Although there have not been
serious investigations on this subject yet, the documents and which we
encountered show us that the location has rich mines. The exploration
and exploitation of many valuable mineral resources, especially oil
and lignite coal in Van and its surroundings, began in the late periods
of the Otoman Empire. But the beginning of the First World War and
the Russian-Armenian occupation of the region where the mines were
located affected the works negatively.
The studies continued during the National Struggle and the first
years of the Republic in the frame of the new state’s founding
philosophy. In this period, many domestic and foreign investors or
statesman have attempted to run mines in Van and its environts. With
the privileges granted to them by the state, the mines were operated
and studies were carried out to find new mines. Especially with the
establishmen of the Institute of MTA, more efficient results were
obtained from the studies. But the beginning and the Second World
War and its results had affected the works of the mines in Van and its
surroundings as in the whole country.
During the Democratic Party Period, the mines were handled with
a new perspective and the investigation was done in this direction. But
due to the political and economic situations that had taken place, Van
and its surrounding mines could not be utilized sufficiently in this
context. Although the declining of workings in these area the
investigation has continied up to now.
Keywords: Van, Oil, Coal, Kurzot, Shahmanis.