Gabriel Resources Ltd.: Annual Results and Fourth Quarter Report

TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwired - March 13, 2014) - Gabriel Resources Ltd. (GBU.TO) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the publication of its Annual Results and Fourth Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis Report for the period ended December 31, 2013.

Summary of recent events

Capitalised terms used in this summary section are defined in "Further Information" below.

  • During 2013, the public profile of the Project rose significantly within the political and public arenas in Romania following its inclusion in a national strategic plan of the Government in July and also with the subsequent introduction of several legislative proposals related to, or impacting upon, the Project, all of which were widely covered in television debates, on the internet and in print media.

  • This Parliamentary and legislative action, high profile and related NGO opposition served to intensify the focus on the actions of Government and politicians in respect of the Project and, ultimately, no progress or clarity of process has been forthcoming in Q4 2013 regarding the Government's review of the environmental permitting for the Project.

  • Whilst, on the whole, 2013 saw a period of increased political stability in Romania, a renewed sense of political uncertainty has emerged post-period end with the collapse of the ruling 'USL' Government coalition in February 2014 and the formation of a new Government alliance in March.

  • On March 5, 2014, a new coalition Government, including UDMR, a political alliance representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania, was sworn in. The UDMR has been allocated certain ministerial and state secretarial offices, including, of particular relevance to the Project, the Ministries of Environment and Culture, positions it most recently held when in Government in 2012. Each new UDMR minister has recently stated that they do not believe the next steps to the permitting of Rosia Montana fall under their responsibility.

  • The renewed political instability and recently effected ministerial changes, together with the failed legislative initiatives of 2013, have resulted in a lack of transparency in the foreseeable process for permitting the Project. Until such time as the Company can initiate additional, meaningful dialogue with the Government regarding the completion of various permitting processes of the Project including the EIA, Gabriel cannot provide any assurances or estimates of the likely time required to address and resolve matters currently preventing the advancement of the Project.

  • In light of the repeated delays of the Government to properly address the assessment and permitting of the Project, as of March 1, 2014, RMGC has initiated legal procedures for the retrenchment of approximately 400 employees, equivalent to approximately 80 per cent of the workforce. If there is no progress in the advancement of the Project, the affected contracts may be terminated as of May 1, 2014.