Alamos Gold, a Canada-based gold producer, has secured final signatures from the government of Turkey approving the environmental-impact assessment (EIA) for its Kirazlı gold project.

The Ministry of the Environment and Urbanization has issued an EIA Positive Decision Certificate for the proposed project after reviewing the company’s EIA.

Alamos Gold president and CEO John McCluskey said that the company is delighted with the approval that marks a milestone for the miner.

"This achievement reflects our commitment to operating in accordance with the highest environmental and social standards," added McCluskey.

"Kirazli will be Turkey’s next gold mine. We look forward to advancing it over the next 18 months with initial production expected in the first half of 2015."

Alamos, meanwhile, has stated that the EIA on the Agi Dagi project is currently in the final stage of the approval process. The EIA Commission has accepted the report for the project after reviewing the submission.

The company expects to secure the approval in a similar time frame as was achieved with Kirazli, the miner added.