Future or danger? Lithium mine in Altenberg causes excitement!

Future or danger? Lithium mine in Altenberg causes excitement!

There is currently a lot going on in the area of ​​lithium mining in the heart of the Saxon Ore Mountains. On June 24, 2025, the Saxony State Directorate opened the spatial impact assessment procedure for the planned lithium mine of the company Zinnwald Lithium GmbH. This project, which includes the mining of around 1.5 million tons of lithium ore per year, not only promises economic stimulus, but also raises questions about how to treat the environment and local residents. The Pirna district office reports that citizens can now view the application documents in order to submit their comments by August 31, 2025.

The planned processing plant will be built on an area of ​​around 110 hectares in the Liebenau district, while the mining of the ore will take place below the traditional old mining area in Zinnwald. In order to transport the raw ore to the processing plant, three variants are being considered for the approximately 10 kilometer long route, which offer different access options. Experts emphasize that the spatial impact assessment, which serves as the basis for the further planning approval process under mining law, must also focus on the effects on settlement development, traffic, economy, agriculture and tourism.

Public participation and statements

Citizens' initiatives are also active in the region, such as those that have formed in places like Bärenstein, Cínovec and Liebenau. These groups demand full involvement of the population in decision-making processes and have organized themselves to represent their interests. It is particularly worth mentioning that a joint statement was recently submitted in the Czech planning approval process to raise objections to the classification of the project as a strategic project by the EU. This classification could speed up the approval process and attract additional investment to the region.

Further construction sites in lithium mining have currently been announced, and the company Geomet s.r.o. plans to significantly increase its output to 3.2 million tons of lithium per year. This would represent a huge increase compared to the peak tin ore production in Altenberg in the 1980s, which was around 1 million tonnes. These developments also raise new questions and show the dynamics that the lithium sector brings with it in the region. The Eastern Ore Mountains Blog describes the ongoing approval processes and the active role of citizens who campaign against non-transparent decision-making processes.

Future and environmental impact

It is important that the spatial impact assessment not only examines technical aspects, but also the environmental impact of the project. In a first step, the so-called scoping documents are examined to determine the effects on the environment. This is crucial in order to identify potential risks at an early stage and incorporate them into the planning. The data and statements on the review can be viewed until the end of August 2025, both in the city administrations of the affected communities and online. The Saxony State Directorate has commented on the general conditions of the examination and offers extensive information for the public.

How things will continue and what decisions will ultimately be made remains to be seen. The participation of residents, the position of the citizens' initiatives and the environmental protection assessments will be crucial for the success of the project and for the region's acute concerns. The next few weeks will show whether all voices are heard and what solutions are found to strike a balance between economic benefit and ecological protection.