About: gold mining

Masks fall as Romanian government withdraws UNESCO application for Rosia Montana

The Romanian government has officially requested UNESCO to withdraw Bucharest's application to make Rosia Montana a protected world heritage site. The move prompted outrage and protests over the ruling PSD's apparent links with the company that wants to turn the site into a commercial gold mine, writes Claudia Ciobanu.

WWF France calls gold mine project ‘ecological disaster and economic mirage’

The French government will open a public debate on 3 April on the Montagne d’Or, a largely controversial gold mine project in French Guyana. But WWF France demands that the project be abandoned and calls for a move toward an ecologically and socially sustainable development in the overseas department.

Romania to withdraw Rosia Montana UNESCO application

Two years ago, Romanians decided not to host Europe’s largest gold mine and filed for world heritage protection under UNESCO. In a new turn of events, Bucharest is now withdrawing its application in view of a settlement with the Canadian mining company owning the site, writes Claudia Ciobanu.

Ciolos’ failure to save Rosia Montana disappointed many Romanians

Outgoing Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş could have saved the village of Rosia Montana by filing a procedure to make it a UNESCO world heritage site. But he preferred to bow to the interests of a Canadian firm using cyanide technologies to extract gold, writes Claudia Ciobanu.

How developing countries are paying a high price for the global mineral boom

A 200ft deep pit gapes where three years ago stood a mountain. Fields where small farmers planted rice and grew fruit are now an industrial site.

Rosia Montana, an omen for TTIP

Romanians decided two years ago not to host Europe's largest gold mine. Now the Canadian mining company behind the project is seeking massive compensation from Bucharest, in a case that foreshadows what TTIP could bring, writes Claudia Ciobanu.