GOLD DEVELOPMENT: Long-delayed Rosia Montana may be back on track

ROMANIA - The long-delayed Rosia Montana gold project belonging to Gabriel Resources of Toronto has moved a step closer to production with the receipt of its new urbanism certificate. If the environmental permit follows in a timely manner, mining may begin next year.

Gabriel has been attempting to reopen the formerly state-owned mine and remediate many of its environmental problems for several years, but the project became the centre of a whirlwind. It was attacked for human rights violations, asking villagers to move (and building them houses with running water and electricity), the use of cyanide (which the entire European Union has voted to oppose), controversy over the archaeological significance of the site, and the refusal of the Romanian environment ministry to issue the appropriate certification. Now, following last year's elections the tide may finally be turning in favour of resuming production.

The operating company, Rosia Montana Gold Corp., maintains a trilingual website at www.RMGC.ro where it has posted information about its plans.