Romanian opposition party "Union for salvation of Romania" (SSR) requested the government to urgently send to the European Commission a plan for the exploitation of the graphite deposit in Baja de Fier (Gorge District).
"The SSR demands that the Çolaku government urgently send to the European Commission a plan for the exploitation of the graphite deposit in Baia de Fier, for which Romania can receive European funds, the press release of this party states. “Otherwise, Romania will lose billions of euros.“
According to the party, graphene obtained by exfoliating graphite is the “new gold” and Romania is one of the few countries in the world that has its reserves.
„Graphene is considered a miracle mineral that overcomes technological barriers in the most modern and important industries: microelectronics, energy, space industry“, SSR points out. In the 2000s, 40,000 tons of graphite were mined in Baia de Fier, today the leader in graphite exploitation in Europe is Norway, which processes 10,000 tons of graphite per year. Thus, four times more can be produced in Romania, moreover, Romanian graphite is of fantastic quality, its purity is 98%.“
The European Commission considers graphite to be a rare and critical raw material, for which it provides financing, ensures road construction, electricity supplies and construction of graphite exploitation facilities.