Romanian officials reroute flooded stream away from Praid salt mine
BUCHAREST, June 3 (Reuters) - Romanian officials were rerouting a stream in central Romania to prevent further flooding of the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a crucial tourist attraction, after parts of its floor caved in.
Authorities evacuated 45 households near the mine areas at risk of collapse after the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita have swollen the nearby stream.
While part of the mine has been producing salt, with an annual production capacity of around 70,000-100,000 metric tons, its huge galleries and medical centre attract half a million tourists each year.
On Monday, the government approved support schemes worth 300 million lei ($67.82 million) for immediate help to the state-owned mine as well as up to 200 local companies that will be affected from the loss of tourism.
European experts were also expected on site to assess potential solutions to save the mine.
($1 = 4.4234 lei)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump issues travel ban, barring US entry for people from 12 countries
Donald Trump signed a sweeping new proclamation that will bar or partially restrict entry from nearly 20 countries, citing national security concerns. The ban prohibits travel into the US for people from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trump also issued travel suspensions for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela Trump signs order banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the US
Glasgow Times
29 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Northern Ireland Secretary set to meet EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic
Mr Benn will travel to Brussels for the meeting with Maros Sefcovic which comes after the announcement of the proposed SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) deal between the UK and EU last month. The Government has said it will make a 'huge difference to consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland'. Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland remains aligned with EU single market rules for goods following the UK's departure from the EU. A freight lorry travelling through the Port of Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA) The new deal between the UK and EU has been described as aiming to facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, protecting the UK's internal market, reducing costs for businesses and improving consumer choice. It is also aimed at saving businesses hours of time and money by removing swathes of paperwork and numerous health certificates, checks and processes – with those using the red lane expected to save close to £1 million per month. Mr Benn said he will emphasise the UK Government's commitment to continue to deliver the Windsor Framework, in the meeting which the minister for EU relations Nick Thomas–Symonds will also attend. 'The agreement the UK Government recently reached with the EU will help us to deliver on our core mission to grow the economy, and shows the benefits of a closer partnership with our friends in Europe,' he said. 'I look forward to meeting with Commissioner Sefcovic today, to emphasise this Government's commitment to continuing to implement the Windsor Framework and to delivering the new SPS agreement as soon as possible. 'This will facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and protect the UK's internal market.' Mr Benn added: 'Northern Ireland will, of course, continue to enjoy its unique access to the EU's single market, a key competitive advantage. 'All of this means that Northern Ireland is set to become an even more attractive destination for investment in the years ahead.' Mr Benn is also to meet representatives from the EU diplomatic community and attend a roundtable of business stakeholders including the British Agriculture Bureau and the Confederation of British Industry.
Glasgow Times
30 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
UK must tackle energy bills as firms face £24bn in extra costs
Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the business group, will tell business leaders and politicians at the CBI's business dinner on Thursday that sky-high energy costs are an 'anchor on our ambition'. At the event in London, she will call on the Government to come up with a 'serious plan' to cut energy costs and invest in energy security to help make the UK and businesses more competitive. The CBI said almost 90% of British businesses have seen their energy bills rise over the past three years, with a third seeing them rocket by more than 50%. Four in 10 firms are reducing investment as a result, according to the group. Higher energy bills come on top of significant increases in staff costs, with the CBI estimating the recent rise in national insurance contributions (NICs) and past three minimum wage hikes since 2023-24 is costing companies an extra £24 billion each year. Ms Newton-Smith will say: 'Business is now straining under £24 billion in extra costs per year. 'That's more than the cost of Crossrail. More than the Home Office budget – on business, every year.' She will add: 'With costs running so high, there is one issue we absolutely must tackle. 'Without it, any industrial strategy, any serious plan for economic security will fall flat on its face. Energy.' She will say the rising cost of energy 'isn't just a cost issue'. 'It's a jobs issue. An investment issue. A security issue. 'Because how can UK business compete with one hand tied behind its back – and the other straining to keep the lights on? 'This is an anchor on our ambition. A crack in our economic security. And it must be fixed.' Britain is becoming less competitive for business and industry due to expensive energy, with firms finding it 'harder and harder to stay in the UK' when power is far cheaper abroad, according to the CBI. Ms Newton-Smith will warn UK firms 'pay among the highest electricity bills in the world – 50% more than France or Germany, four times more than the US and Canada'. The CBI is making a plea to the Government to remove policy costs from electricity bills, but it also wants it to focus on low-carbon energy to help achieve economic security. Its recent economic report showed the UK net zero economy grew 10% and supported 900,000 jobs. Ms Newton-Smith will say: 'If economic security is our destination, then make no mistake: affordable, reliable, low-carbon energy is the road that gets us there, 'What we need now is a serious plan alongside the industrial strategy: to cut energy costs, to manage the shift from fossil fuels, to boost efficiency, storage and system flexibility. 'This Government has already shown it can put prosperity over politics on the world stage. Well now it must do the same for energy at home. 'Because this isn't about culture wars. It's about common sense.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Through our sprint to clean power, we will get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets – protecting business and household finances with clean, homegrown energy that we control. 'We are already bringing energy costs for key UK industries closer in line with other major economies through the British industry supercharger – saving businesses £5 billion over the next 10 years.'
