The European Parliament's Petitions Committee examined the circumstances concerning the planned opening of the gold mine at Verespatak during its extraordinary session in Bucharest today. Several petitions have been recently lodged with the EP's expert committee in connection with the project.

At the session, Member of the European Parliament Zoltán Bagó, of Fidesz, stressed: "The project, which inherently includes severe environmental risks, remains unacceptable for Hungary. Serious doubts have arisen with regard to the accuracy of the project's environmental impact study, from both the point of view of the project's system of safeguards and its transparency."

The Rosia Montana Gold Corporation plans to establish a mine that utilizes cyanide extraction technology in the town of Verespatak. Its area of 800 hectares and total volumetric capacity of 250 million tons would make it Europe's largest gold and silver mine, but would also mean the total destruction of the current natural environment. The utilized cyanide extraction technology reignites especially unpleasant memories in Hungary. The destructive cyanide pollution of the River Tisza in 2000 also occurred when a Romanian (Baia Mare) mine's dam burst, releasing toxic waste that subsequently reached Hungary and was responsible for the total destruction of plant and animal life throughout the length of the Tisza River.

Following the investigation, Zoltán Bagó stated: "It is my firm opinion that the impact study published with regard to the realisation of the project is far from reassuring. The fact that the study was commissioned by the contractor itself bears with it serious doubts with regard to its credibility, and therefore also with regard to the employment of the principle of objectivity and impartiality." He also pointed out: "It is unclear what the 150 million Euro liability insurance indicated by the contractor covers exactly. This sum is insufficient to provide compensation in case of a disaster similar in scale to the Tisza cyanide spill. The precise interval of the rehabilitation period is contradictory, as is its supervision and assurance. In view of all these severe qualms, the project cannot be supported; Hungary is firmly against the opening of the Verespatak gold mine."

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)