The long disputed mining project at Rosia Montana in Romania might be blocked by the Corna river, which is protected under a European directive on water also included in Romania’s legislation, according to Romanian Environment Minister Rovana Plumb.

Speaking about the European law, Rovana Plumb, quoted by AFP, told a parliamentary committee that it “stipulates that one cannot divert a water course unless it is for the sake of a project of exceptional public interest".

“So we cannot go ahead with the environmental assessment procedure unless parliament adopts a bill declaring the mine a project of exceptional public interest," she added. The project can't continue without the environment ministry's OK.

Former Romanian Environment Minister Attila Korodi also said that the Corna river could represent a real problem and if “the mine project does not get public interest status, the river cannot be diverted, which means the mine cannot be built as it is planned today,” writes AFP.

The Romanian government submitted to parliament a draft law which uses the term “project of exceptional public interest”. This would allow Canadian company Gabriel Resources, the major owner of Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC), to go on with its plans and expropriate property.

However, the bill adopted in August by the government and submitted for approval to the parliament, triggered an ongoing series of protests across the country against the Rosia Montana gold mining project.

Critics of the project say the use of cyanide in the mining process as well as the destruction of four mountains in the area are unacceptable environmental consequences of exploiting the gold mine.

A special commission will draw up a report on this project which will be submitted for approval to the Parliament by mid-November.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com