The European Parliament is adamant: an outright ban is needed as quickly as possible on cyanide technologies in the European Union mining industry.
Parliament, following the recommendation of rapporteur György Hölvényi (EPP, Hungary), repeated its call in a resolution adopted by the overwhelming majority of 556 votes for with 8 abstentions in Brussels on 27 April on implementation of the mining waste directive (2006/21/EC), which, in the view of MEPs, leaves much to be desired.
The same call was made by Parliament to the European Commission in 2010 but thus far without success (see EUROPE 10137).
Cyanide is a highly toxic chemical used in the gold extraction industry. The Baia Mare (Romania) cyanide spill caused a major environmental disaster in 2000.
Drawing upon the assessment, carried out by its own environment committee, of the how the directive is being implemented, Parliament states that member states are failing to properly implement European rules that seek to prevent soil and water pollution caused by major accidents involving dangerous mining waste.
It also stresses the need to reduce the use of primary resources and to encourage re-use and recycling as a way of transitioning to the circular economy that the EU is aiming for.
“The mining waste directive came in consequence of the Baia Mare accident. Yesterday’s powerful vote is a confirmation that the directive is dangerously inefficient. There exist no more excuses not to act. If anything, it has been sheer luck rather than adequate safety measures that prevented new accidents. Human and environmental health however, shouldn’t be subjected to luck or chance”, commented Roxana Pencea-Bradatan of the NGO Mining Watch Romania. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)