New Ray of Hope for Parajd: Plan in Place to Save the Salt Mine

A glimmer of hope has emerged for the historic Parajd salt mine in Romania, with plans to potentially reopen a section of the Erzsébet mine, which has been sealed for eight decades. István Moldován, head of the mining department, stated that while significant intervention and funding are required for restoration, he sees no mining-related obstacles to allowing visitors into a portion of the mine.

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We were able to go in about halfway, and in this section, we have reinforced and under-excavated the tunnel. This was a ramp tunnel, there was a gallery part and two chambers, the left one of which was blasted in when the section was closed. Later, this became the mine's waste heap. We would explore the right-hand chamber: from a mining perspective, it can be solved that it is accessible.

Moldován explained that a section of the mine, specifically a ramp tunnel with a gallery and two chambers, has been reinforced and under-excavated. The left chamber was blasted shut when the mine closed, later becoming the mine's waste heap. The right chamber is slated for exploration, with Moldován confident that it can be made accessible to visitors from a mining perspective. However, legal authority to conduct work is lacking, prompting the submission of permit applications to the authorities.

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Legally, however, they do not have the authority to carry out work, so they have submitted a permit application to the authorities.

Concurrently, the department is working to identify a site for a new mine. This process involves extensive geological research and planning, with the evaluation from expert authorities eagerly awaited. Once this assessment is complete, preparations can proceed based on economic and technological factors. Safety remains the paramount concern for any new mine, necessitating its location above the Telegdy mine section to eliminate the risk of water ingress. A safety cover layer of salt must also be maintained, but initial surveys suggest a new extraction area could be opened west of Telegdy.

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The head of the department also mentioned that they are working to identify the location of a possible new mine, and the process requires detailed geological research and planning, which takes longer.

The decision to open any new tunnels rests with the central administration, which must provide the necessary funding. This, in turn, requires ministerial approval, making the investment entirely dependent on their decision. The project signifies a potential revival for the region's mining heritage, balancing historical preservation with modern safety and economic considerations.

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He emphasized that safety is the main consideration when opening a new mine, meaning it must be located above the Telegdy mine section, excluding the possibility of water ingress.