BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Officials in Romania say 25 miners are protesting more than 200 meters (650 feet) down in a mine, complaining that authorities will not give them an operating license.
Mine manager Gabriela Dobrota said a further 79 miners joined the protest on Wednesday, gathering outside the Baita Plai mine some 520 kilometers (325 miles) northwest of Bucharest.
Economy Minister Mihai Tudose told Romania TV that authorities were investigating suspected cases of illegal mining at the site, which was why the National Agency for Mineral Resources had not issued a mining permit.
The mine has ores which contain gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead and tungsten.
The mine was recently acquired by British mining company Vast Resources PLC.
