A miner of a gold mine in northern Greece shouts slogans during a protest outside the Ministry of Development in favour of an investment of Canadian Eldorado Gold corporation in Athens April 16, 2015.© Alkis Konstantinidis / Reuter
Eldorado Gold Corp. says it will resume mining and construction work at a project in northern Greece after an injunction temporarily set aside decisions by Greece's Ministry of Energy and Environment that forced a shutdown.
The Vancouver-based company said Monday that Greece's Council of State issued an injunction in favour of the Labour Centre of Halkidiki and the unions representing the workers of Hellas Gold S.A., a subsidiary of Eldorado.
The council is expected to issue a final ruling at some point in the near future, however Eldorado said the injunction will remain in place until then.
"We will resume our mining and construction activities in Halkidiki and bring our employees and contractors back to work, effective immediately," Eldorado chief executive Paul Wright said in a statement.
"Furthermore, we will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Energy with a view to addressing any concerns the Ministry might have."
The Greek government temporarily halted work at the Canadian-run gold mine in August after it said the company violated terms of technical studies.
According to documents released by the government, the violations concern a project to build a copper and gold processing plant, including not carrying out certain tests on the flash smelting process proposed for use.
The mines under development have been controversial, with many fearing they will cause environmental contamination and affect tourism.
The project has divided residents with supporters and opponents staging multiple demonstrations and, at times, clashing. Eldorado has fought several legal battles as it works to develop the project.