Rosia Montana special commission gets extended mandate

Prime minister Ponta said last week the special Parliamentary commission debating a new mining legal framework, which would also apply to the open pit project at Rosia Montana, received a one month extension of their mandate to work out political differences over the controversial mining project.

MPs are currently debating a government draft bill which regulates gold and silver mining at Rosia Montana. However, the members of the special commission drastically changed the bill so that it doesn’t specifically regulate the project developed by Rosia Montana Gold Resources, the miner controlled by Canada’s Gabriel Resources, but all gold and silver mining projects.

Darius Valcov, head of the special commission, said MPs excluded from the bill the agreement between the government and RMGC.

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“Even the law has been changed, so we don’t mention the Rosia Montana project, but a law regarding some measures for stimulating the exploitation of gold and silver deposits as part of mining projects of exceptional public interest,” said Valcov, quoted by Mediafax newswire.

PM Ponta claimed the extended deadline would allow MPs to complete hearings and go through documents on mining. He suggested the new deadline would allow left wing PSD and right wing PNL, both part of the governing coallition USL, to reach a common decision on the project.

“The decision of the commission is sovereign on the government,” said the PM.

Under the extended deadline, the Parliament should hold the final vote on the Rosia Montana draft bill by December.

RMGC aims to secure a positive vote in Parliament, which would allow it to obtain the final environmental permit, so as to start the biggest mining project in Europe. The company aims to unearth 300 tons of gold and 1,500 tons of silver in 15 years, envisaging the start of mining activities at the end of 2016.

Ovidiu Posirca

In picture: MP Constantin Popa during a meeting with miners employed by RMGC in Rosia Montana