Workshop in Slatina-Timiș (Caraș-Severin County)

The project NETMIN, eMS nr. RORS-308 initiated by Politehnica University Timisoara (Romania) and the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor (Serbia) continued its implementation with a workshop held on July the 15^th in Slatina-Timis (Caraș-Severin county). The workshop aimed at disseminating information regarding environmental projects in mining areas (active or where exploitation was discontinued) and at inviting members from rural areas to join the ”Network for enhancing environmental protection from pollutants of mining cross border areas” initiated through the project. Due to the health alert in Romania and Serbia, the workshop had to be organized in a mixt system, part of the experts participating in the dialogue with the participants via videoconference technologies.

The mayor of Statina-Timis, Mr. Gheorghe Roma presented the region and its development strategy. Mr. Prof. Petru Gherga evoked the local memory of mining traditions, discontinued in the previous century due to economic reasons. Daniel Duda-Seiman, MD, presented the impact pollution has on human health, while prof. Univ. Dr. Radu Sumalan explained how polluted soils could be remedied by cultivating appropriate plants in the region.  Assoc. prof. Cornelia Muntean, the project manager, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to environmental issues and invited the participants to join the formed network. Also, Dr. Ana Kostov, the representative of the Serbian partner in the project, shared the experience of Bor (Serbia), where the copper mining is still active.

Information materials related to the project and the network were handed out to the participants, aiming to extend the education and research network for enhancing environmental protection from pollutants of mining cross-border areas.