Greek top court annuls minister’s decision on Eldorado miner

The plenary of Greece’s Council of State, the country’s top administrative court, annulled on Wednesday an order issued last year by the Environment and Energy that revoked Canada’s Eldorado Gold’s permits to mine in northern Greece.

Environment Minister Panos Skourletis had argued that the technical studies submitted by Eldorado for a flash-melting method the company would use did not take place in Greece, but abroad.

The Council of State said the plenary “annulled by majority” the minister’s decision.

Responding to the ruling, the ministry said it “respects court decisions” and that it “will study the rationale of the decision and act based strictly on the protection of the environment, health and safety of the residents and workers to ensure public interest.”