Eldorado Gold secures new environmental permit for Certej site

Newsroom 27/11/2013 | 13:36

Canada-based Eldorado Gold was granted a new environmental permit on Tuesday by the Hunedoara Environmental Protection Agency to start gold mining in Certej, western Romania.

The controversy regarding the Certej project ignited last year, after the Timisoara Regional Environmental Protection Agency permitted the start of cyanide-based mining in Certej. Deva Gold, the company owned by Eldorado Gold, was strapped of its permit later that year after the Ministry of Environment said it had not been consulted on the decision.

“The Romanian Ministry of the Environment mimics a correct procedure for the environmental impact assessment regarding the cyanide-based Certej mining project and its major risks to the safety of the region. Through its subordinated agencies, the ministry wants to conceal the true nature of the recent issued permit, that the USL government’s political will is to reopen at any costs gold mining operations in the Apuseni Mountains”, stated Roxana Pencea from Mining Watch Romania.

The Hunedoara-based agency issued the new permit after a one-day evaluation of the public contestations regarding the Certej project.

Representatives at Mining Watch Romania said they would challenge in court the new permit.

According to government figures, the gold deposit in Certej amounts to 120 tons. In the meantime, the miner said it would start exploration activities in three gold deposits in Hunedoara County by year end.

Eldorado Gold reported a nine month profit of USD 38.6 million. The company has operations in Turkey, China, Brazil and Romania.