The Romanian government has won a legal dispute with Canadian mining company Gabriel Resources, which had sought $4.4 billion in damages for losses related to a failed mining project. The Romanian government, which had a 20% stake in the project, officially withdrew its support for what would have been the largest open cast gold mine in Europe in 2014.

Gabriel Resources first gained concession rights to the area in 1999 but the project was strongly opposed by environmental and civic activists over environmental and health concerns, as well as impacts on ancient Roman mine galleries and villages.

A protest in 2013 had drawn tens of thousands of people. The site was added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2021.