Citizens activists who have been fighting maintain both integrity environment their livelihoods Rosia Montana celebrate withdrawal World Bank support gold mining project threatens Romania's oldest town.
On October 10 year, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private lending arm, announced would not financially support controversial Rosia Montana gold mining project that would Europe's largest open-cast gold mining operation. Rosia Montana located Romania's Apuseni mountain region northwest Bucharest.
"For well over two years have been confronted on daily basis with psychological war make way project,” said Eugen David, president Alburnus Maior, local community group resisting project. “Today marks an important victory struggle keep land children. We are overjoyed congratulate IFC its decision. We hope other financial institutions banks will follow su pull out refrain investing speculative, unprofitable unsustainable project will only increase pollution, poverty corruption,"
The announcement comes heels World Bank's annual meetings Washington D.C. recently convened during last weekend September where activists concerned citizens protested met with World Bank officials demand change. Rosia Montana activists seized every opportunity make their case every round table, seminar, presentation panel discussion.
According bank official, World Bank president James Wolfensohn, an unusual intervention, directed IFC head Peter Woicke drop loan negotiations. According official, Wolfensohn decided against project after meeting with two Romanian environmental activists who met the bank president end seminar.
An international coalition NGOs including CEE Bankwatch Network, Mineral Policy Center, Friends Earth International Greenpeace CEE has been waging an aggressive campaign stop both open p mines planned Canadian-owned Gabriel Resources IFC support the project. Now pressure must increase on Romanian government and private lenders.
In an official statement, IFC said had "concluded everybody's best interest not pursue discussions with company regarding IFC's involvement [Rosia Montana] project."
Toronto-based Gabriel Resources plans deform valley Rosia Montana, oldest documented settlement Romania, into four open-p mines. neighboring valley Corna would converted into an unlined cyanide storage 'pond' covering surface up 600 hectares (1,482 acres) held back 180-meter high dam. pits would generate roughly 196 million tons cyanide-laced waste. international coalition opposed mine pointed disastrous experience the Baia Mare gold mine Romania, where cyanide spill 2000 polluted Tisza Danube Rivers, contaminating drinking water supplies 2.5 million people killing 1200 tons fish.
"We are pleased IFC has recognized enormous social, environmental lost opportunity costs Rosia Montana gold mine, and made responsible decision turn down," said Joan Kuyek MiningWatch Canada. Payal Sampat Mineral Policy Center Washington, DC added, "This sends powerful signal lenders: reject projects that communities have opposed. World Bank private banks should apply precedent future lending decisions."
While World Bank pull-out Rosia Montana project cause for celebration, Bank still currently involved with following extractive projects: Yanacocha gold mine Quellaveco copper mine Peru, Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline, Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline Georgia Azerbaijan-Turkey, Kumtor gold mine Kyrgyz Republic, Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline Sepon gold mine in Laos.
SOURCES: "World Bank chief blocks Romanian gold-mine loan," Neil King Jr., Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2002; Press Release, Alburnus Maior, CEE Bankwatch Network, Friends Earth International, et al., October 10, 2002; "Bank pulls plug on open-cast gold mine," John Vidal, Guardian, October 12, 2002; “Europe’s Largest Open-cast Mine May Wipe Out Romania’s Oldest Town,” Drillbits Tailings, Vol.7, No.7, September, 2002.
