Centrul de Ecologie Montana and NuclearINFO.ro: civic commitment to force transparency in the nuclear industry of Romania

The foundation "Center for Mountain Ecology" (Centrul de Ecologie Montana, CEM) foundation has been dedicated to the sustainable development of Romania for over 25 years. A central project of CEM is the website nuclearINFO.ro, which deals with the problems, risks and lack of transparency in the the nuclear energy sector of Romania and in particular of the uranium mining and milling sector. The aim of nuclearINFO.ro is to raise public awareness about environmental damages and financial obligations related to the uranium industry.

An urgent matter for CEM and nuclearINFO.ro is the demand for a modern and transparent environmental monitoring system for the uranium processing site in Rotbav, Feldioara (Brasov County, Central Romania) The foundation criticizes the insufficient care of the operators regarding the radioactive tailing ponds and the lack of rehabilitation of the area. The unclear financing of ecological reconstruction is also a problem. CEM demands the lifting of the confidentiality of data related to radioactive processing procedures.

Despite the ceasing of mining in 2021 due to the insolvency of the state operator, the lack of transparency and appropriate rehabilitation measures continues to exist. This results in significant environmental and health risks, particularly at former mining sites. The Romanian uranium industry faces significant challenges, including the need for critical oversight and comprehensive remediation of past mining activities.

Another problem is the confidentiality of environmental reports on the radiological safety assessment of the sites, which are classified as the intellectual property of the mining company and are not made public. This makes it difficult for the public to get a clear picture of the environmental impacts and financial obligations. Despite international obligations raised by Euratom and the IAEA, Romania publishes information only very sporadically.

In regards to health strain, there is data on the health status of employees of the Feldioara uranium processing facilities. However, these data are deleted 30 years after exposed individuals retire – another transparency gap. This means that long-term health effects on former employees are not traceable. An exception law for the Feldioara location allows employees and individuals within an 8-km radius to retire two years earlier, indicating recognition of health risks. However, no financial compensations for former employees within the nuclear sector in Brasov County is in sight.

Overall, CEM with nuclearINFO.ro highlights the challenges associated with lacking transparency and information provision in the field of nuclear energy in Romania. The secrecy and insufficient publication of data make it difficult for the public to make informed decisions and assess the accountability of the nuclear industry. The work of CEM aims at closing these information gaps and to inform the public The collaboration with international partners and support from NGOs are crucial to increasing transparency and minimizing environmental impacts.

Preparation of the abstract was assisted by the AI project KIPITZ (property of the Federal republic of Germany)