Hungary's Parliament votes to ban cyanide-based metal mining

The 'Cyanide-Free Hungary!'(1)coalition which was initiated by Protect the Future (Védegylet), Greenpeace Hungary, Friends of the Earth Hungary, and LMP - Hungary's green party 'Politics can be different!' consists of 50 Hungarian NGOs and 13 NGOs based in the EU. The coalition's aim has been to ensure the passing of a bill to amend Hungary's mining law by introducing a ban on cyanide-based mining technologies. Cyanide is used to separate metals such as gold, silver and copper from the ore. The bill was promoted by 5 Members of Parliament (MPs) namely József Ángyán (Fidesz), Kálmán Katona (independent), Andor Nagy (KDNP), Sándor Orosz (MSZP) and Gábor Velkey (SZDSZ).

The campaign coalition's aim was to ensure that a change in law make the use of hazardous cyanide based mining technologies impossible in Hungary.
Mining accidents such as the Baia Mare cyanide spill should never happen again. In January 2010 it will be 10 years since this disaster in Romania caused a massive trans-boundary pollution killing much of the aquatic life in the Tisza and Danube rivers. "This is so much more than just a symbolic step," explains Benedek Jávor, LMP's spokesperson. "The Hungarian mining authorities have actually issued permits regarding precious metal exploration in the Börzsöny, Mátra and Zemplén mountains. With the high gold price companies are eager to grab up concessions. We have to make sure that applying dangerous mining technologies may never even be thought of in these areas of outstanding natural beauty."

"The ban on cyanide-based metal mining is an important precedent and will hopefully not fail to affect our neighbors. But it will also encourage the European Union to promote similar regulatory action, thus making the region and the whole of Europe a safer place to live", comments Szegfalvi Zsolt, director of Greenpeace Hungary.

"All this is of even greater importance as we are witnessing ever new gold mining plans popping up around us, like the one close to Certej in Transylvania just a while ago", Robert Friedrich adds, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Hungary.

Zsolt Boda, spokesperson for 'Protect the Future!' stresses the virtually complete parliamentary consensus as it came to voting the amendment: "We are delighted that matters of environmental safety are beyond political colors and indeed are a matter of common understanding, support and cooperation between all political actors."

Today, Hungary has acted and set a vital example to show that change for better is possible and is sometimes even simple. Today's vote will dramatically change the dynamics in any trans-boundary consultations on metal mining that involve Hungary. Following this success the 'Cyanide-Free Hugary!' coalition is now heading for international action and cooperation in order to achieve an ever more widespread ban of cyanide-based mining technology.
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For more information please contact:
Benedek Javor, LMP's spokesperson on: +36 20 512 71 68
Boda Zsolt, spokesperson for 'Protect the Future!' on: +36 70 339 07 04
Friedrich Robert, campaigner for FOE-Hungary on: + 36 70 2 715 715 Zsolt Szegfalvi, director, Greenpeace Hungary on: +36 20 573 1430