The mining company obtained a concession from Ciner Holding in September 2009 to produce about 15 million tonnes of coal from the reserves in the Soma Eynez region.
The company employs 5,550 people, including 5,000 workers in underground mining operations and about 130 engineers as technical personnel.
[2] The company's CEO, Alp Gürkan, stated in an interview with the newspaper Hürriyet in 2012 that the coal in Soma cost US$130–140 per tonne in the time when mined by TKİ, and they are committed to keep up with US$23.80 per tonne including royalties.
[3] Towards the end of the 1970s, due to fuel shortages and difficulties importing machinery, Alp's business was brought to the point of shutting down.
Alp Gürkan, having closed his company, was contemplating how to pay off his debts when a business opportunity appeared.