Mining by country

Mining in Romania

Mining in Romania: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 2.7% of merchandise exports (2025). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 63% of countries.
Ores and metals2.7%of merchandise exports, 2025.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+0.30above 61% of countries
  • Political stability+0.21above 52% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+0.27above 64% of countries
  • Control of corruption-0.00above 55% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Romania at a glance

Mining jobs57,0002019. Mining and quarrying, down 14% on 2018.Source: USGS
Defining moment
UNESCO inscription of the Rosia Montana mining landscape, July 2021. The listing recognised the Roman-era galleries and later mining works at the gold mining site. Source: Asociatia Peisajul Cultural Rosia Montana
Mining law
Mining Law No. 85/2003 (implementing rule 1208/2003). Production licences need an environmental impact assessment under Law 292/2018. Source: USGS
UNESCO mining heritage
Rosia Montana Mining Cultural Landscape (July 2021). The association says the landscape was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2021, and describes it as the only Romanian mining site on the list and as on the… Source: Asociatia Peisajul Cultural Rosia Montana
Key mining regions
Rosia Montana (gold); Jiu Valley (coal) Source: Romanian Ministry of Environment
Main mines
Rosia Poieni mine, Plai polymetallic mine, Manaila mine, Vatra Dornei mine, Teregova mine Source: USGS

Official sitesGeological survey

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Romania

What the ground holds. coal, lignite, copper, lead, gold, salt, crude petroleum, natural gas, cement, aluminium (processed) and steel. Source: USGS

Famous mines in Romania

People who shaped mining in Romania

Turning points

  1. Baia Mare cyanide spill

    A breach about 25 metres long and 2.5 metres deep in the Aurul tailings dam released about 100,000 cubic metres of tailings water containing cyanide.

    Source: UNEP / UN OCHA via ReliefWeb, Wikidata

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Europe

RussiaSpainSwedenGermanyNorwayPolandAustriaPortugalFranceUkraine

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Romania and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.