European Parliament lobbies to destroy billion-dollar Rosia Montana project
The European Commission is under pressure to crush the chances of a controversial gold mining project in Romania from going ahead, under proposals for new rules to ban the use of cyanide in mining technology
June 2010 - From the Print Edition
Under the pretext that the ban will protect water resources and biological diversity, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) want the Commission to propose a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the EU before the end of 2011.
This will wreck the chances of a green light for a billion-dollar gold and silver mining project in an impoverished village in Alba County, Rosia Montana, by a Toronto-listed company Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC).
The Canadian company can only use cyanide in order to extract gold and silver deposits spread through rock in the Apuseni mountains.
The European Parliament last month approved a resolution by 488 votes in favour, 48 against and with 57 abstentions, stating a complete ban “is the only safe way to protect our water resources and ecosystems against cyanide pollution from mining activities”.
However RMGC hit back stating this was part of “an unscrupulous and orchestrated attack against Romania and its future development”.
The resolution is the result of fierce lobbying action by NGOs opposed to the mining project in Romania, which has received massive criticism from the Hungarian Government in particular.
Under the recommendation, MEPs suggested to the European Commission and EU member states “not to support, either directly or indirectly, any mining projects in the EU that involve cyanide technology”.