These changes are set down in a draft emergency ordinance discussed Tuesday in the Government meeting, and obtained by MEDIAFAX.
Under the act, the Government would raise the royalties on the production of coal, metal ores, aluminum and aluminous rocks, radioactive metals, rare earths, precious and semi-precious stones, mineral, therapeutic and geothermal waters, non-fuel gases, and therapeutic mud and peat to 6%, and the royalties on precious metal ores to 8%.
Precious metals include silver, gold, mercury and the platinum metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum).
The mining royalties owed to the state budget for the extraction of natural mineral waters is equal to EUR6 per 1000 liters, says the ordinance.
The royalties for gross revenue from the transport of petroleum will be raised from 10% to 15%, while those for underground gas storage will be hiked from 3% to 5%.
For non-metal substances, magnetic rocks, industrial limestone, dolomite, sandstone, clay, marl, sand, pumice, chalk, the royalties will be the lei equivalent of EUR0.8 per unit of mining production, while for ornamental basalt, marble, travertine, a fee of EUR3.5 per unit (in lei) will be charged.
For haloid salts, the royalties will be the lei equivalent of EUR1 per unit of production.
A share of 20% of the fees charged to holders of prospection, exploration or exploitation licenses will be transferred to the local budget of the administrative unit hosting the mining site.