FAQ

Q: Is the “Coalition for a Cyanide Free Romania” anti-mining?
A: No. The coalition aims to outlaw the use of cyanide in mining. The cyanide leaching method is highly toxic and leads to destruction, pollution and degradation.

Q: Why only ban the use of cyanide in mining ?
A: The mining sector is the largest consumer of cyanide - 180 thousand tones a year, globally. Other industries like pharmaceutics use very small amounts which are not a hazardous to the environment.

Q: Are there any international regulations on the use of cyanides?
A: At present, there is no regulation on the use of cyanide in mining. There exists an International Code for Cyanide Management which is a set of voluntary regulations for mining companies and there is no regulative authority which could impose sanctions would the code be breached by any company.

The Code was published in November 2005 which means that it is a fairly recent initiative and which has yet to prove its effectiveness. This code does not describe any mechanisms that could be used to prevent future accidents similar to those at Baia Mare or Baia Borsa. Moreover, it is stated in the code that direct or indirect discharges from mining operations into ground waters can contain up to 0.50 mg/L WAD CN (dissociable cyanide in a weakly acid environment) but such a concentration can be lethal to most aquatic species. According to this Code this level of concentration is acceptable (Moran, 2002).The European Union last year adopted a so-called Mining waste Directive (the ‘directive’) which amongst others; indicates maximum limits for cyanide emissions into the ground. This does not mean that member states may not adopt stricter measures including banning the use of cyanide particularly since the directive although transposed by every member state, directly or practically applies to three member states only.
Its compromising result and shortcomings become evident if one considers that for example the directive does not address cyanide emissions into the air. Take the Rosia Montana mine development: if ever developed it will emit 134.2kg of cyanide per day into the air; this on a normal operating day; every day. This means 48983 kg per year or 783728 kg over the 16 year mine life. There exists no EU legislation on Air Quality for such kind of emissions

Q: Is “cyanides rain” a real phenomenon?
A: Yes. 30 to 50% of the cyanhydric acid which is produced during the processing of mineral ores is released in the atmosphere as vapours. When it rains, rain drops are imbued with these vapours and subsequently it brings this acid back down on earth and on plants and it burns them.

What is cyanhidric acid?
Cyanhydric acid is a toxic gas according to the Convention for the Banning of the Development, Production, Stocking and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction which countries around the world can sign up to since 1993 when it was first presented in Paris. At Auschwitz and Maidanek cyanhydric acid was used to gas Jews and it was called Zyclon B.

Q: Will the banning of cyanide have a negative impact on Romania’s economy?
A: No, because 1) No company in Romania produces cyanide and which could be affected by this regulation; 2) In Romania cyanide was previously used by three companies: Transgold (Baia Mare), Minvest Deva (Baia de Aries) and Remin (E.M. Baia Borsa, U.P. Sasar). All these companies have been closed and therefore banning the use of cyanides in mining activities would have no negative social or economic consequences; 3) in case of any severe pollution cause by a mining operation which would have a negative impact on waters, protected areas and the soil, mining companies can easily defend themselves against any environmental liabilities, more specifically their obligation to cover all expenses incurred with the rehabilitation of the environment. This is what happened with SC Esmeralda SA from Baia Mare.

Q: What are the regulations on environmental liability in Romania?
A: Romania has recently transposed the CE Directive 2004/35/CE from 21 April 2004 on environmental liability and the prevention and rehabilitation of any environmental damage. Nevertheless, in the Romanian version several exceptions from the original text are stipulated. Thus, “the operator does not cover the cost of rehabilitation if it can prove that it did not act deliberately or inadvertently and the damage to the environment was caused by an emission or any other specifically authorized event and in full compliance with the conditions set out in the license it was granted”. Therefore, the Romanian taxpayers could, in the end, have to pay for the rehabilitation of the environment damaged by pollution and accidents at mining operations where cyanided will have been used.

Q: Who is paying for the damages caused by the accident in Baia Mare?
A: The Romanian state and the Romanian tax payers. When the accident in Baia Mare occurred no criminal or civil sanctions were imposed on the administrators of the company or the company itself, “Aurul”. However, the Romanian state still has to pay Hungary approximately 100 million dollars as compensation for the environmental damage which the cyanide accident caused. Furthermore, the debts that this company had to the state budget when it ceased all its activites in 2006 amounted to 200 million dollars.