Pınar Mining
Pınar Mining Inc.
One of the founding pillars of Kurmel Group’s mining story
Pınar Mining is the origin point of Kurmel Group’s journey in mining. The story began in the mid-1960s, in a modest chrome ore operation near a small mountain town at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains — then known as Karsantı, today’s Aladağ. Inspired by the spring (“Pınar” in Turkish) flowing close to the mine, founders Necati Kurmel and his cousin Ataman Fedai gave their young company the name Pınar.
With strong entrepreneurial drive and hard work, Pınar’s production soon reached overseas markets, turning a small local initiative into a company exporting chrome ore beyond Turkey’s borders. This early success became the starting point of a long-term mining tradition that still characterizes the group today.
Today, Pınar Mining operates a chrome concentration facility located north of the Aladağ district, where Abdullah Creek and Doğan Creek meet. The plant, originally commissioned in 1972 and expanded in 2000, has an installed capacity of 400,000 tons/year. Chrome ores with a grade of 5–8% Cr2O3 are processed to produce approximately 40,000 tons/year of 48% Cr2O3 chrome concentrate.
Combining this long history, strategically located plant and consistent production capacity, Pınar Mining continues to be one of the key elements of Kurmel Group’s chrome mining activities.
Pınar Mining: From a Mountain Spring to International Chrome Markets
What started as a modest mine near a mountain spring in the Taurus range has evolved into a chrome producer with a modern concentration plant, steady output and a central role in the Kurmel Group’s mining portfolio.
Roots in the 1960s
Pınar Mining’s story dates back to the mid-1960s, at a time when chrome mining in the Taurus Mountains was still emerging. The company’s identity is built on that pioneering spirit and early entrepreneurial courage.
A Name Inspired by Nature
The name “Pınar” — meaning “spring” in Turkish — was inspired by the natural spring next to the early mine, symbolizing continuity, renewal and the natural origin of the raw materials the company works with.
Gateway to Export Markets
Thanks to the hard work of its founders, Pınar’s chrome ore was shipped to overseas markets in a relatively short time, transforming a small local mine into an export-oriented operation.
Historical Background & Geographic Setting
The company’s first operational area was a modest chrome ore deposit near the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, close to what was then the small town of Karsantı, now known as Aladağ. This geography — rugged, mountainous and rich in mineralization — shaped the character of Pınar Mining from the very beginning.
The mine’s proximity to both natural water sources and local communities made it not only an economic asset, but also a focal point for regional development. Over time, growing experience in mining and logistics helped integrate Pınar’s operations with national infrastructure and export routes.
Today, Pınar continues to operate in the same wider region, benefiting from the geological continuity of chrome-bearing formations and the accumulated know-how from decades of mining activity under the Kurmel Group.
Chrome Concentration Plant & Production Capacities
North of Aladağ, at the confluence of Abdullah Creek and Doğan Creek, Pınar Mining operates a chrome concentration plant that forms the core of its industrial presence. The first plant was commissioned in 1972 and later expanded in 2000, increasing its processing capability and enabling stable long-term production.
The facility is designed to process chrome ores with a grade ranging from 5–8% Cr2O3. Through systematic crushing, grinding and concentration, the plant produces approximately 40,000 tons/year of chrome concentrate with a grade of around 48% Cr2O3, based on an installed capacity of 400,000 tons/year of run-of-mine ore.
Raw Material Feed
Chrome ore sourced from nearby deposits is delivered to the plant with Fe–Cr ratios and grades suitable for concentration, ensuring efficient use of the installed capacity.
Concentration Process
Low-grade ore in the range of 5–8% Cr2O3 is upgraded to about 48% concentrate through multiple stages of size reduction and enrichment, allowing commercially viable utilization of resources that would otherwise have limited value.
Consistent Output
The combination of long-established plant infrastructure and experience in process management supports stable, year-round production aligned with the broader needs of Kurmel Group’s chrome operations.
Role Within Kurmel Group’s Mining Portfolio
Pınar Mining holds a special place within the Kurmel Group ecosystem. It represents the group’s earliest mining initiative and laid the foundations for later, larger-scale companies and projects in chrome and other minerals.
The experience gained from operating Pınar’s deposits and plant helped shape the group’s approach to exploration, mine planning, ore processing and export-oriented logistics. Even as newer, higher-capacity facilities have been commissioned within the group, Pınar continues to be a symbol of origin and continuity.
Its steady contribution in terms of chrome concentrate, its historical role, and its strong connection to the Aladağ region make Pınar Mining an enduring part of Kurmel Group’s identity in the mining sector.
Corporate Identity & Contact Information
As a long-standing member of the Kurmel Group, Pınar Mining benefits from the group’s financial strength, operational discipline and commitment to long-term industrial investments. Its activities are coordinated with other group companies in mining, agriculture, livestock and real estate, forming a diversified yet integrated portfolio.
Pınar Mining maintains its central corporate contact through Kurmel Group’s headquarters in Adana, while operations are located in the Aladağ region. Stakeholders, customers and business partners can reach the company via the contact channels below.
Head Office Contact
Address: Zeytinli Mah. Turhan Cemal Beriker Bulvarı No: 607/A, Seyhan / Adana, Turkey
Phone: +90 322 459 90 20
Email: info@kurmelgroup.com