RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Senate Rejects the Rosia Montana Draft Law

The gold mining project in Rosia Montana remains one of the most controversial topics subject to public debate in Romania, mostly because the impact of cyanides on the environment.

Senate Rejects the Rosia Montana Draft Law
Senate Rejects the Rosia Montana Draft Law

, 20.11.2013, 15:24

The gold mining project in Rosia Montana remains one of the most controversial topics subject to public debate in Romania, mostly because the impact of cyanides on the environment. This is, in fact, the main reason why the Canadian company Gold Corporation has been denied the right to initiate mining works in the area. Romanian senators have recently had their say on it.



Documented as early as 131 and boasting the largest estimated gold deposits in Europe, Rosia Montana continues to divide Romanian society between supporters of cyanide-based mining exploitations and those who oppose the project for environmental reasons. Protests have been ongoing in Bucharest and other large cities over the past 12 weeks.



Their actions have not gone out without effect, after on November 11 the special parliamentary committee turned down the draft bill submitted by the Government. In turn Romanian senators have rejected the bill regarding certain measures pertaining to gold and silver-mining operations in Rosia Montana. The only party not to voice any discontent against the project was the Liberal-Democratic Party in opposition. Social-Democrat leader Ilie Sarbu has announced that the report drafted by the Committee has been submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office.



Ilie Sarbu : “For the peace of mind of those involved in the project, the report has been submitted to the General Prosecutor’s Office. Time goes by, but irregularities are still investigated, they cannot be erased, and that gives us some sort of satisfaction”.



The announcement followed after a series of revelations brought to Parliament by Social-Democratic MP Gabriela Firea, a member of the special parliamentary committee on Rosia Montana, who said that Romanians should know that the exploitation certificate for Rosia Montana was issued in 1998 under the mandate of the then Industry Minister, Liberal-Democrat Radu Berceanu.



Radu Berceanu: “The certificate was simply transferred on a free basis from the Romanian minority stakeholder to the foreign majority stake holder. Moreover, the state’s equity stake was cut back from 33 to 19%”.



The findings of the special parliamentary committee were outlined by its chairman Darius Valcov, according to whom the project does not meet all the complex criteria with respect to conducting mining activities in Romania. Darius Valcov also believes that certain alternative ways of establishing revenues and the state’s equity stake should remain on the table for all similar projects, as the case is in other states. Under the current provisions, Rosia Montana would bring in 5.2 billion dollars to the state budget, with Romania becoming Europe’s largest gold producer.




Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company