Fresh protests erupt over Europe’s largest gold project

Frik Els | October 13, 2013 | 1:06 am Energy Precious Metals Europe Gold Silver 
Gabriel Resources uncertain about future of its Romanian gold project
Existing open pit at Rosia Montana mined by Romanian state-owned company during Soviet times.

Fresh protests against Europe’s would-be largest gold mine was held in Romania on Sunday.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital Bucharest and other cities in the Eastern European country on Sunday in a show of opposition against the Rosia Montana project in Transylvania.

AP reports protesters marched past government headquarters yelling, “Your treason is measured in gold!” with thousands calling for the site of the proposed mine to be listed as a UNESCO heritage site.

It is believed the be one of the richest deposits in Europe with 314 tonnes of gold and 1,500 tonnes of silver and where mining activity dates back to the 1st Century.

The villages around Rosia Montana have seen better days

Protesters are battling Canadian company Gabriel Resources (TSX:GBU) – which has been advancing the project since the late 1990s at a cost of well over $500 million under seven different CEOs – over the firm’s plans to use cyanide and other environmental impacts of building the open cast mine.

The company proposes four gold quarries with the potential to produce 500,000 ounces of gold per year over the mine’s lifespan, which would destroy four mountaintops and wipe out three villages of the 16 that make up Rosia Montana.

In September Romanian government established a commission to produce a report by October 20th. The Parliament will then vote in November. The President has also proposed holding a referendum.

Gabriel Resources has responded to the government’s hesitancy by threatening to sue for $4 billion.

 

Pictures of today’s protest from Twitter:

 

 

 

Mining.com Recommends

6 Comments

  • ambra blu

    + video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da20fevhOmU

  • ambra blu

    dont forget the huge amount of cash splashed by rmgc in order to get the mining started. theyve been bribing romanian politicians and media alike for 15 years now. this out of the article. as for the area, it is poor, but it’s got great touristic potential, due to beauty of landscape & historical heritage. also, dont forget to mention what the trade off involves, what amount of the gold & silver & rare metals romania will eventually get of its own natural stacks

    the shameless lies they call the rmgc adverts on tv have been reported for being misinforming, aggressive, manipulative. despite all this, the civil resistance is strong.

  • Matt

    This particular company can forget about mining this area. The protesters = votes and that is what will decide. Most of the protesters will never see Rosia Montana nor do they know much about cyanide but that at some point becomes irrelevant as protests take on a life of their own. The people most affected by the Rosia Montana mine development in the villages on the mountain, are almost 100% behind the mine as it is the only source of income that they can see. Quite likely there is a strong local entity fueling the protests with an eye to getting a chunk of this huge deposit in the future. Than you would see some environmental harm but it will pass quietly in the night, with not a sound.

  • Eat at Joes

    Let “DRACULA” do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then “Bite Me”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • rosiamontananews

    By the time the mine closes Rosia Montana will be safer, cleaner and more beautiful than it has been for generations http://www.rosiamontananews.com/rm-golds-environmental-safeguards-better-than-best-practice/457

  • homorealis

    The situation is complex, cyanide is a long known issue all over the
    world. Behind Gabriel resources there are dubious dealings and so called investors. Steinmitz, the baron of illegal diamonds and the murderer of thousands of Africans, investigated by both the American and Swiss governments. And Paulson known by everybody for his grand schemes. These 2 are actually the main shareholders, supported by the jews representing the American Embassy in Bucharest. Also Bilderberg has its arm trough Alfred Gusenbauer former Chancellor of Austria and the leader of social democrats, now director and consultant at Rosia Montana Gold Corporation.
    The corrupt Romanian government supporting the project is in fact the exponent of former communists currently naming themselves social / democrats. 500 million investment? Over 400 millionsgiven to socialists in bribe, tens of millions consultancy fees and salaries given to Gusenbauers, this is what the new European “democracy”stands for, bribe and corruption. EU is becoming the promoter of financial scams and financial lords. In the Romanian parliament currently a new draft would expropriate the Romanians in the benefit of the mining company.

    In the area where the mine is planned, there are also paramount historical vestiges dating back to Roman times. The Romanian government is the only government building highways on top of archeological sites dating from 100 BC.
    Systematically this government is blocking archeological works at sites dating 3-5000 BC not only annihilating and murdering basically the beginnings of the European civilization. Neolithic sites in the eastern part of the Black Sea if any doubt were the heart of future European civilizations and not only. The protesters are accursed by the so calledCanadian corporation and the Romanian government being anything from extremists and hooligans to fascists and anarchists.

    The Romanian government is playing down an explosive situation. So did
    Ceausescu. Millions (of hooligans sic) in Romania are against the project and shale gas explorations. A list of +200 shareholders, foreign and local beneficiaries and individuals considered by Romanians traitors, is build and these immoral political and business entities sow fascism. Border-less fascism will reap.

    • More News