Located in Turgutlu district of Manisa province, Caldag nickel mine has Turkeys biggest nickel reserve with 33 million tons. However, Turgutlu, in the center of Gediz Plain, is important for its many valuable agricultural products above ground and its fertile soils more than its underground nickel reserves. Having obtained the necessary permits from the former Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the company operates in extracting and processing the nickel in a pivotal project. This marked the beginning of the local communitys struggle for closing the mine by cancelling the forest land appropriation and other permits.

In 2007, Turgutlu community started organizing as Caldag nickel mine would cause countless damage and disaster on forest resources, under and above ground water resources, clean air, productive agricultural lands, humans and animals health. The local community tried preventing the establishment of the mining company in their region first under the umbrella of Turgutlu Coalition and then Turgutlu Environment Platform-(TURCEP in Turkish acroynm).

Due to the fact that in separating nickel acid leaching method would be used in the open air, it would not only affect Turgutlu but a greater zone in the surrounding districts, provinces. Heavily affected will be the agricultural production. The issue has quickly turned into a regional and then into a national conflict. The struggle in fact started locally by Turgutlu Environment Platform (TURCEP in Turkish acroynm) in 2007, then it gained the support of The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA in Turkish acronym) who has increased the outreach of the struggle and opposition from local level, to national and international one.

The United Kingdom-based European Nickel company that had obtained the right to mine the nickel in Caldag had to give in to the united public struggle and opposition coming from farmers, industry representatives, politicians, lawyers, academicians and NGOs. On 10.12.2010, the company announced at the London Stock Exchange that it shifted its investments to the Philippines due to the fact that the forest allocation was not renewed, project financing was not secured and collaboration with the relevant institutions did not take shape.

Since European Nickel company only realised a pilot study in Turgutlu, it is not possible to provide figures on an annual basis. After about a year from its decision to leave Turkey, in 2011, European Nickel sold its rights in Caldag to VTG Nickel company.