Söke KİPAŞ officials made a statement regarding the fire and the allegations in the news

The Batı Kipaş Paper Factory, which started its operations in the Söke Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) on January 15, 2022, had a fire break out in its waste storage on Friday, July 12, which could not be extinguished for days. Although it was said to be extinguished, the fire has occasionally flared up again. Along with the fire, claims regarding the negative impact of the Kipaş Paper Factory on the environment have also been on the agenda. Issues such as the factory’s use of groundwater and its wastewater have been raised. Following the fire disaster, there were allegations and images related to some workers at Kipaş Factory attempting suicide due to not receiving their salaries, which added to the situation.

Batı Kipaş officials held a press conference to meet with local media representatives from Söke. In attendance were Financial and Administrative Affairs Manager Talip Gençer, Waste Paper Purchasing Manager Metin Köse, Energy and Auxiliary Facilities Manager Özgür Yılmaz, Environmental Permit Inspection Group Manager Mustafa Bayaroğulları, Executive Assistant Müge Evin, and Human Resources Chief Zeliha Sabeh. Kipaş officials made statements regarding the issues on the agenda and answered questions from the press.

“Two months’ worth of paper stock burned”

It was reported that approximately 150,000 tons of waste paper burned in the Kipaş waste storage, and the fire continues intermittently. Just when it was thought to be extinguished, flames rose again last weekend. It was stated that the fire would be completely extinguished in 15 days. It was expressed that the warehouses are being monitored and continuous surveillance is being conducted. During the fire, which lasted about two weeks, the factory’s two months’ worth of paper stock was burned; Manager Talip Gençer stated, “We have not fully overcome the fire yet; our cooling efforts are ongoing. Meanwhile, insurance companies are also working on the damage. Our discussions with the insurance companies are continuing. The financial cost of the damage will become clear in the coming days.”

“Precautions will be increased”

Although it was stated that the Batı Kipaş Paper Factory is equipped with the latest technology and the waste paper storage areas are monitored with thermal cameras, such fires still occurred. It was mentioned that foreign materials can be present in waste paper bales, and these materials contributed to the fire’s spread. To ensure that any future fires remain localized and can be intervened and extinguished more quickly, technical studies have been initiated, and the factory officials stated that efforts to dispose of the burnt paper properly are being carried out meticulously. It was also mentioned that planning is underway to apply different practices in the storage system.

“The salary crisis is not related to our company”

Financial and Administrative Affairs Manager Talip Gençer claimed that reports regarding workers not being paid their salaries under the headline “Salary Crisis” are unfounded; he stated, “As Kipaş Holding, which is a family with tens of thousands of employees, there is absolutely no situation regarding the non-payment of salaries to our workers. Despite our warnings to the relevant company officials we contracted for services, we want to bring to the public’s attention that the collaboration with that company was terminated due to their failure to pay their workers.”

“The amount of water to be used was determined before the factory was established”

Responding to claims that the paper factory rapidly consumes groundwater using its production process and could leave Söke without water in the coming years, Environmental Permit Inspection Group Manager Mustafa Bayaroğulları stated, “When the factory was established, the Ministry provided the necessary permits knowing the amount of water to be used. Decisions regarding land suitability were made accordingly, and the necessary permits were granted. Our paper factory in Maraş has been operational since 2014, and so far, there has been no water shortage there. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports are obtained before the factory is established. All relevant institutions request information in the EIA report. Our water use has been approved by all relevant institutions, including the State Hydraulic Works (DSI). We receive water from the basin directed by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA). EIA reports are prepared according to a 35-year plan. If any negative situation had been observed, EIA and other permits would not have been granted.”

It was noted that 35% of the water used by the factory is recycled, and an investment to increase this rate to 50% is also planned. The factory in Söke uses 16,000 m3 of water daily, and this figure can sometimes rise to 22,000 m3.

Environmental Permit Inspection Group Manager Mustafa Bayaroğulları emphasized that Batı Kipaş is one of the leading companies in Turkey using state-of-the-art treatment facility systems. He stated that the claims regarding the factory causing environmental pollution do not reflect the truth; he added, “We are continuously monitored by the Ministry and relevant institutions. The Ministry also conducts monitoring instantaneously through an online system.”