The Save Romania Union (USR) is asking the Ciolacu government to urgently submit to the European Commission a graphite mining plan for the Baia de Fier, southwestern Gorj County, mine, saying that otherwise Romania may lose billions of euros.

„(…). August 22, at 12:00, is the deadline by which the Romanian government, through the Ministry of Economy, has to submit to the European Commission a project under which to present what it intends to do with the graphite at Baia de Fier,” USR MP Radu Miruta said in a press statement released on Monday.

„Graphene is considered a miracle mineral, overcoming technological barriers in the most modern and important industries: microelectronics, energy, aerospace. In the 2000s, 40,000 tonnes of graphite were mined annually at Baia de Fier. Today, in 2024, the leading graphite mining nation in Europe is Norway, which processes 10,000 tonnes of graphite annually. So, four times more can be done in Romania. In addition, Romanian graphite has a fantastic quality as it is 98% pure,” the USR MP said.

According to USR, the European Commission sees graphite as a rare, critical raw material, for which it grants funding for related road construction, electricity supply, incentives for graphite mining.

„We, USR, have twice suggested Parliament public funding for the Baia de Fier mine; the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) have rejected them, the European Commission is now extending a hand to us. Graphite mining is an industry worth billions of euros and would create hundreds of jobs in Gorj County. We can no longer afford to miss funding,” the USR representative stressed.

AGERPRES