Public discontent of cyanide technology usage increases

The topic of the dangers of the cyanide technology used for gold extraction caused the great est excitement. The usage of cyanides is exclusively risky as even in small doses they are very toxic, reacts very easily and is accumulated in organic materials, and its compounds cyanides and thiocyanates can stay stable for many years. This problem is related not only with the cyanides usage but also with their transportation and storage. Cyanides separate nor only the gold from the ores but also metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, iron, nickel, and cadmium, which form toxic compounds, as well.

The meeting was very successful – we got acquainted with people of initiative and good ideas, and we outlined the first joint actions. Once again we were convinced that the citizens’ activity is catalyzed by informed awareness and finding out of people sharing the same values.

Some more about the dangers of the cyanide technology usage in Kurdjali:

In Bulgaria there are planned 4 projects using cyanide technology: Chelopech, Krumovgrad, Kurdjali, and Popintsi, while other 37 deposits are established as economically profitable.

The concrete dangers of the cyanide technology usage in Kurdjali can be briefly described as follows:
• The installation (located 400 м away from residence blocks of apartments) and the extraction tail (370 м away of the village of Vishegrad) are in violation of Ordinance 7 of the Health Ministry on sanitary and hygienic protection.
• There are found out in the region very high values of disorders of the endocrine, respiratory and nervous systems, as well as skin diseases. In the Report on the Environment Impact itself it is pointed out that these are the main areas which are impacted by cyanide intoxication.

• There are no Emergency and Transportation Plans for cyanides attached to the Environment Impact Report.

• Тhe technology is not tested industrially and it does not meet the requirements for best available technics.

• The tail does not meet the requirements of the Mining Waste Directive.

The holding up of such meetings and trainings is possible owing to the voluntary efforts of citizens and experts and to the financial support of the Bulgarian Foundation “Bioraznoobrazie” (Biodiversity Foundation) under the “For the nature in Bulgaria” project financed by the European Economic Area.

Photos from the event