A protest against the Rosia Montana gold mining project in Romania, named ‘You want to save Rosia Montana: Prove it!’, will take place in Bucharest’s Revolutiei Square on January 28, at 11:00, according to rosiamontana.org. NGO Alburnus Maior created the rosiamontana.org website in an effort to save the Romanian city of Rosia Montana.

People planning to attend the protest are asked to use only messages and symbols on banners, flags and boards distributed through the Save Rosia Montana campaign, reads a statement of the organizers.

Alburnus Maior is an NGO based at Rosia Montana. It was founded in September 2000 by inhabitants from Rosia Montana to oppose Gabriel Resources' gold mine proposal. Alburnus Maior is also the progenitor of the 'Save Rosia Montana' campaign. Read more about it here.

Rosia Montana Gold Corporation has mining concerns in Rosia Montana, Apuseni Mountains. The gold and silver mining project in Rosia Montana has been opposed for years by NGOs saying such a project would destroy the area.

In July, 2011, Gabriel Resources increased its ownership interest in the project to 80.69 percent through the acquisition of a minority shareholding for a net cash consideration of USD 1.15 million. Minvest S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company, holds the remaining 19.31 percent. The Romanian state is yet to give its OK for the gold mining activity.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)