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Romanian Environment Min To Resume Authorization Procedures For Gold Mining Investment

Romania’s Environment and Forest Ministry will resume authorization procedures for investments in the Rosia Montana gold mining project in the western are of the country, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely told a news conference Monday.
Romanian Environment Min To Resume Authorization Procedures For Gold Mining Investment
21 iun. 2010, 14:59, English

Borbely said Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) representatives presented authorities with a new urbanism certificate, adding the ministry addressed the company a series of questions regarding the issue. The minister said the Committee for Technical Analysis (CAT) will probably meet next week to decide on the steps to be made.

Borbely said the committee will most likely decide to resume authorization procedures for investments in the Rosia Montana gold mining project. The minister said the new urbanism certificate, which follows two other certificates that had been cancelled in court, include different parameters.

Rosia Montana Gold Corporation is owned by Canadian-based Gabriel Resources, which is majority shareholder (80.46%), and by the Romanian state via mining company Minvest Deva which owns 19.31%.

The mining project has been on the table since the 1990s but is highly controversial because of the environmental issues, as it entails cyanide mining. Another issue of concern is the preservation of archeological sites in the area. The Rosia Montana Gold Corporation needs to pass an environmental impact study approval by the Romanian Environment Ministry.