Hungary Opposes Gold Mining Proj In W Romania But It’s Romania’s Decision – Diplomat

Asked what Hungary thinks about the gold mining project in western Romania, Fuzes said "No, no, no. No way!"

He said Hungary has bitter memories from a cyanide spill ten years ago from a gold mine in Baia Mare, northern Romania.

On the night of January 30, 2000, a dam holding contaminated waters, owned by Romanian-Australian firm "Aurul" Baia Mare, burst, spilling 100,000 cubic meters of cyanide-contaminated water over farmland and then into the Somes river. The polluted waters eventually reached the Tisza and then the Danube, killing large quantities of fish in Hungary and the former Yugoslavia. Hungary demanded USD100 million as reparations for the damage caused by the accident.

"Even if they tell us it works for Canada or South Patagonia, we don't agree. But we understand this is a decision for the Romanian Government to make," the ambassador said.

He added that if the Romanian Government decides to give green light to the mining project, Hungary will have "about 300 questions on the matter" targeting common financing to prevent environmental accidents and the protection of archeological sites in the area.

"But, of course, it is the Romanian Government's decision," the ambassador underscored.

Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely told supporters of the Rosia Montana gold mining project in a meeting Wednesday that authorities must be very careful about approving a cyanide mining project after the cyanide spill ten year years ago.

The gold mining project in Rosia Montana is highly controversial because of the environmental issues the investment would cause because it entails cyanide mining.

Canada's Gabriel Resources owns 80% of Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC), the joint venture that would carry out the mining project, while the Romanian state owns 19.3%. The remainder belongs to other shareholders.

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