Gold rush in the Harz: Permission granted for the search for valuable raw materials!

Gold rush in the Harz: Permission granted for the search for valuable raw materials!

In a decision with far-reaching consequences, a Munich company has received permission to search for valuable raw materials such as gold, copper and zinc in the Harz Mountains. This permit was granted by the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) and covers the “Kaiserpfalz” permit area, which extends over approximately 238 square kilometers. The region, which stretches from Bad Harzburg to Wildemann and from Altenau to the Innerstetalsperre in the Goslar district, represents promising terrain for the search for raw materials. The permit is valid until the end of October 2028, but before drilling can take place, separate mining operating plans are required. A separate participation procedure is also required, which shows that this is not just a matter of hope.

But why is this so important? In the last 17 years, apart from lithium, only five ore applications have been submitted. This shows that there is high interest in domestic raw materials, especially geothermal energy and the associated materials. At a time when the need for raw materials such as gold and silver has increased significantly in recent years - especially in the context of growing electromobility and renewable energies - the search for these ores is more relevant than ever.

Raw material requirements and their consequences

Current developments signal that Germany is still not a country poor in raw materials, but domestic mining and processing had long been viewed as obsolete. Political concerns about environmental impacts and social standards in raw material extraction have led to a reliance on imports, particularly from China and Russia. The Ukraine conflict and the corona pandemic have once again highlighted the vulnerability of European supply chains.

To counteract this, the EU has adopted a new raw materials strategy in the “Critical Raw Materials Act”, which aims to strengthen the domestic production and recycling of critical raw materials. To this end, the Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck is planning a raw materials fund of one billion euros to support the research and development of new mining sites. In Saxony in particular, there are 28 exploration projects underway, including for lithium, tin and copper. A new tin mine in the Ore Mountains is also being planned and is expected to create over 100 jobs.

Looking into the future

The future of raw material use is clear: experts emphasize the need to reduce raw material use in order to achieve climate neutrality. Existing geothermal drillings in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg could theoretically cover up to 12% of Germany's lithium needs. The company Vulcan Energy Resources is also planning a commercial lithium extraction plant in Landau, which is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025.

The EU is planning to shorten the approval process for raw material projects so that domestic raw material production can gain momentum in the future. Recycling will be further increased, with the aim of covering 15% of the EU's raw material needs through recycling, supported by the digital product passport, which provides information on origin and recycling options. However, it will be important to find a balance between raw material extraction and the associated ecological and social challenges.

At a time when the value of domestic resources is at a premium, the approval to explore for raw materials in the Harz Mountains is seen as a small but important step in the right direction. It will be exciting to see how this will affect the region and the European raw materials situation.