mining

Romania's Government will find ways to pay severance for laid off miners, until the European Union approves state aid for these units, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday on the public TV station.

Romanian economy minister Ion Ariton said Monday he would not agree with the shutdown with all Valea Jiului mines, adding he expects management and unions to come up with a long-term development plan.

Canadian-based Gabriel Resources, which owns Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) in Romania, said in its earnings report for 2009 that the country’s change in Government end last year has led to more active dialog with authorities and increased interest in the company’s gold mining project.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Tuesday on OTV the country’s High Council for Defense (CSAT), which he heads, will discuss the gold mining project Rosia Montana when an expertise on it is ready.

Romania’s mining sector will be reorganized and 1,600 persons will be sacked from the state-owned pitcoal mining company CNH, Economy Minister-designate Adriean Videanu said at parliamentary hearing Tuesday, giving guarantees that no mine will be shut down.

The Romanian Parliament adopted Tuesday a law on speeding up the expropriation of lands necessary for mining exploitation, aimed to hike coal production in order to provide resources to the National Energy System, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday.