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Environment Ministry to conduct separate analyses of weaknesses of Rosia Montana project
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Attila Korodi said on Tuesday in Oradea (north-western Romania) that the institution he coordinates will conduct separate analyses regarding the special issues signalled by the special parliamentary committee on the Rosia Montana gold mining project.
Korodi said the ministry will draw up its own studies, in cooperation with the Romanian Academy and Geological Institute, in order to come up with an evaluation of the ministry as far as the Rosia Montana project is concerned.
'We make an analysis of the elements featuring in the Parliament's report. Because, otherwise we are circling a never-ending story,' Korodi pointed out.
The minister also said the report of the Rosia Montana parliamentary committee, 'very useful', shed some light on the situation and weaknesses of the project, the credibility issues and information on the company. These will be the matters to be once again subject to analysis, Korodi giving the example of the issue regarding the tailings management facility, the use of explosive materials, the flows, as well as 'a bunch' of other issues.
'The report has not been voted yet by the Deputies' Chamber, I'm waiting for their decision. The ministry received the report in January and it's now under debate in the technical analysis commission. I will convene (the commission - editor's note) next week to find out the conclusions,' Korodi said.
He stressed that the environment ministry will 'do all its homework' in order for the Romanian state to suffer no consequences as a result of the final decision.
'At this moment, the company has no reason to take Romania to court, because Romania has done its duty. It seems that this company has not done its job properly, from the legal point of view. One must have strong grounds for any decision, no matter how big or small,' Attila Korodi said.
Attila Korodi: Hurry a mistake in Rosia Montana gold mining project
The project of Rosia Montana must be carried out to the letter of the law, and those rushing through this issue are wrong, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Attila Korodi told Agerpres.
'In this case [the Rosia Montana gold mining project] a lot has changed from the beginning of 2013. We have a report at the Romanian Parliament that sets tasks for us. The Chamber of Deputies voted the report and work on it is already under way. It states that the data communicated on several technical topics are superficial. The position of the Romanian state must be much clearer and based on a duly performed analysis. This is why there is work to do on the Rosia Montana matter. (...) Those who rush through the Rosia Montana project are wrong. The Rosia Montana [project] must be carefully considered to the letter of the law, which is to the benefit of citizens,' the minister said.
He added that as long as a court decision blocks the archaeological discharge of some of the investment, there is no way for the project to advance. 'For us, everything in terms of a Ministry of Culture approval on the archaeological discharge is among the fundamental documents,' Korodi pointed out.
On November 11, 2013, the special Parliament Committee on Rosia Montana has rejected the project submitted by the Government; a second attempt to pass the project failed in December. Meanwhile, the government coalition has changed; the Democratic Union of Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) has replaced the Liberals.
The Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) intends to establish in Rosia Montana (western Romania, in the Apuseni Mountains) the most modern mine in Romania; it plans to extract approximately 300 tonnes of gold and 1,400 tonnes of silver, equivalent to 20,000 ingots.
The company was founded in 1997, in Alba County (central Romania), with the state-own mining company Minvest Deva and Gabriel Resources as shareholders, with 19.31 percent and 80.69 percent, respectively.
If cleared, the gold mining project would make Romania the top gold producer in Europe, ahead of the current leaders Finland and Sweden.