Plumb said the government-endorsed bill regarding the mining project has raised the required environmental guarantee from $76 million to $146 million.
“The guarantee will cover for the closing of the mine and its environmental rehabilitation,” said the minister.
She added the bill stipulates the mining company would be forced to pay additional guarantees, of $25 million, to cover potential accidents.
The minister also told the parliamentary commission RMGC has an obligation to remove “historical pollution” in Rosia Montana, an operation which is estimated to cost EUR300 million.
“As for the Romania state’s effort to decontaminate the area of its historical pollution, the operation requires an investment of EUR300 million, which we cannot afford,” she said.
Thousands of Romanians in capital Bucharest and other cities across the country have been protesting every day for the past three weeks against plans to allow the opening of the gold mine in Rosia Montana. The Romanian Parliament has recently set up a commission to analyze the mining project.
Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) is 80.69% controlled by Canadian mining company Gabriel Resources, while the rest is held by the Romanian state through mining company Minvest.