Gabriel understands that true sustainability is about building up a community's capability and vitality over time. Gabriel has integrated the interests of the community and ecology in designing the Project to make Rosia Montana a model mining development. We made a committment to sharing the economic and environmental benefits with a village and region that has been previously exploited for its gold but is now impoverished, polluted and overlooked.

Even in advance of operations Gabriel demonstrated its corporate values and commitment to the region.  International best practice, human rights, labour and anti-corruption standards have been fully integrated into company policy and practice, over and above any local laws. Gabriel also understands that its responsibilities do not end with the closure of a mine and has made plans to provide for villagers displaced by the proposed mine. For example, Gabriel has purchased old houses, and built new and modern houses. Our community development plans include building a new school, medical clinics, and a city hall/community center. Hundreds of millions of dollars has already been spent or committed on initiatives to improve the local community infrastructure.

Gabriel is dedicated to observing the highest standards of corporate responsibility and has pledged to build a state of the art mining facility that meets or exceeds all international, European and Romanian standards for responsible mining practices.

Mining practices have seen enormous change for the better in recent decades. Laws have been enacted to require thorough rehabilitation of land. Environmental assessments submitted by companies are legally binding commitments. Technologies for extraction and run-off containment are generations ahead of those that were used in Rosia Montana, or elsewhere in Romania during communist times.

Gabriel’s detailed environmental plans also include the replanting of trees, treatment of run-off water, and re-contouring slopes with topsoil and vegetation, as well as using a percentage of revenue from every ounce of gold for the reclamation of any Rosia Montana lands and waters affected by the Project footprint.

Gabriel has also invested US$31m in identifying and cataloguing Rosia Montana's cultural heritage in a program of rescue archaeology. This restoration program has already saved and housed dozens of relics, including salvaging an intact Roman water wheel dating back to the first or second century AD.