Euro Sun’s Rovina proposal is stopped: Romanian court annuls environmental permit

Mining Watch Romania obtained a judgement on a court case it had initiated. The Cluj Court annulled the environmental permit for the urbanism plan of the Rovina mine proposal. Without this permit, Canadian Euro Sun Mining, through its subsidiary Samax Romania, cannot obtain the construction permits needed to start developing the mine. The court decision thus halts the entire proposal.

“We stopped an imminent disaster. The judges confirmed the existence of a long list of irregularities behind the initial issuing of the permit: there was no impact study; no certified specialists were consulted and no real environmental impact assessment was made. All this, so that a controversial company, with all kinds of subsidiaries in tax havens, can destroy an entire mountain, and move thousands of people from their homes in the Apuseni Mountains.” – Roxana Pencea Brădățan, founder of Mining Watch Romania.

“The Cluj Court upheld the action and ordered the annulment of the environmental permit. The case was a particularly complex one, with many procedural and substantive law issues at stake. Our effort was significant but successful. We welcome the judgement of the Cluj Court which confirms the court’s awareness of the importance of rigorous compliance with environmental legislation.” – Roxana Mândruțiu, lawyer at SCA Revnic Cristian & Asociații.

Euro Sun’s Rovina proposal is situated in the Hunedoara county. It foresees the exploitation of three gold-copper deposits, covering a total area of 2,768 ha. Samax Romania, a subsidiary of Canadian Euro Sun Mining (TSE: ESM), owns the entire mine proposal. 

From very early on many local residents and civil society organisations warned about the proposal’s risks including the large-scale destruction caused to an area that forms part of the Apuseni Mountains. The creation of two huge surface pits would result in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of mining waste being dumped in the area. All this would have destroyed an entire mountain and made life impossible for the locals owning properties and living in Rovina.

“My home is now safe,” says Adriana Maucher, one of the landowners with property with the proposal’s footprint. “It’s an important victory, but I will remain vigilant until we stop the destruction for good,” Maucher added.

This is not the first legal victory secured by Mining Watch Romania against the Rovina proposal. The Cluj Court of Appeal had already suspended the environmental permit until the main trial on the merits of the case was judged. “The prevention of imminent damage was the argument that convinced the judges and led to the conclusion that the proposal can not continue in such disastrous conditions,” explains Roxana Pencea Brădățan on the suspension of the permit.

“No one is against development. We need and support investments, but we cannot accept those that destroy everything around us,” says Viorica Bold, president of the local association EcouRovinaBucureșci. “Euro Sun’s proposal is destroying the natural environment, our community, our way of life as well as our natural and cultural heritage,” adds Bold. 

The official case dossier carries number 5220/117/2022. The judgement and evolution of the case can be consulted here. 

Notes to the Editors:

Unlike the Roșia Montană and Certej proposal, the Rovina project is wholly owned by a private company, with no Romanian participation.

Mining Watch Romania is a network of organisations that join local communities in their efforts to stop destructive, industrial-scale mine proposals. Mining Watch Romania monitors permits issued by authorities to benefit mining companies and reports irregularities to decision-makers in Romania and, when relevant, at the EU level. Its activities include litigation and advocacy to ensure that Romania’s authorities correctly apply the rule of law.