The new permit may be issued only through a Government decision.
According to the minister, the new problem appeared as the European water directive has not been clearly transposed in the Romanian legislation.
Borbely said he called on the Parliament’s special committees to solve the problem to determine if RMGC needs a river deviation permit from the Government, apart from that obtained from local authorities.
Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC), a joint venture consisting of Canada’s Gabriel Resources and the Romanian state, is developing the mining project at Rosia Montana, in the Apuseni Mountains, with projected costs reaching more than $1 billion.
Gabriel Resources owns 80.69% of RMGC, while the Romanian state (19.31%), through Minvest Deva, and other shareholders control the rest.
The project is backed by President Traian Basescu, while many environmental NGOs have been protesting the project, which involves cyanide mining.