Romania to tighten oversight of ballast pit exploitations

Romanian authorities are preparing stricter controls and legislative changes targeting the exploitation of mineral aggregates from riverbeds, prime minister Ilie Bolojan said, amid concerns over widespread irregularities. The measures aim to curb abuses and improve the protection of natural resources through enhanced inspections and tighter rules governing permits and operations.

The initiative follows an official analysis indicating systemic misuse of licences, with numerous projects formally registered as fish ponds allegedly used for extracting mineral aggregates instead. Investigations cited by ProTV reported that some illegal ballast pits operate under political protection.