Romanian mining regulation and transboundary concerns

Romania has engaged in legislative efforts to regulate mining and mineral aggregate extraction. Interim Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu proposed amendments to the Water Law and the Mines Law to prevent illegal exploitation, including penalties such as fines of up to 500,000 lei and equipment confiscation. Additionally, a Senate rejection occurred regarding a bill intended to align national laws with the European Critical Raw Materials Act, which had faced opposition over proposals to expand the definition of ‘public utility’ for state expropriations.

Parallel to domestic legislative developments, Romania has raised environmental concerns regarding cross-border mining activities. The Romanian government has requested consultations from Serbian authorities concerning the reopening of copper and gold mines near Majdanpek, located approximately 11 kilometers from the Romanian border. Romania has sent inquiries to Belgrade seeking information on human health impacts and environmental protections, citing concerns that a transboundary environmental impact assessment required by the Espoo Convention may not have been conducted for the Serbia Zijin Copper complex.

Specific concerns involve the planned complex, which is expected to include a 126-square-kilometer spatial plan covering the territories of Bor and Zaječar, a new Malka Golaja mine, a 1,900-hectare tailings dam, and a smelter. Environmental advocates have noted that wastewater from the complex would flow into the Timok River and eventually into the Danube, near the border of Bulgaria and Romania.