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Thuringia in lithium fever: Esso begins the search!
Esso receives approval for lithium exploration in Weimarer Land; possible economic opportunities and challenges in Thuringia.
Thuringia in lithium fever: Esso begins the search!
The search for raw materials has become an increasing focus in recent years, especially when it comes to the sought-after materials for battery production. A pleasing example is Esso Deutschland GmbH, which recently received mining permission to search for lithium, manganese and zinc in Thuringia. The corresponding exploration area extends over approximately 4,050 square kilometers in various districts and independent cities, including Eichsfeld, Nordhausen and Weimar. That reports Logistics today.
In times of global demand for lithium, ExxonMobil – the parent company of Esso – also plans to establish itself as one of the leading lithium suppliers worldwide and is already exploring in Arkansas, USA. The “Li+Fluids” research project estimates that between 0.39 and 26.51 million tons of lithium are dissolved in deep water in Thuringia. This is an exciting prospect for the region, even if the economic viability of lithium mining is still unclear and the prospects of success cannot currently be clearly estimated.
Investigations in North Thuringia
Esso has submitted an application to investigate possible lithium deposits in parts of Thuringia in more detail with the aim of mining these raw materials if necessary. Loud MDR The company is also considering manganese and zinc. The study area is referred to by Esso as “Thuringia North”. The affected communities can be found in the districts of Eichsfeld, Wartburgkreis and Gotha as well as in the Unstrut-Hainich district.
The exploration permit enables Esso to examine geological deposits through data analysis and examine the economic viability. However, it is emphasized that this is not a permit for actual mining; This requires extensive operational plans. In fact, it could take between five and 15 years for an initial discovery to result in production. To achieve this, at least two years of successfully assessed geological data are required before physical exploration work can be carried out.
Area-friendly processes in sight
An interesting aspect is the process that could be used for lithium mining. It could be similar to deep geothermal energy in borehole mining, with lithium-containing water being extracted from depths of several hundred meters. This method is considered to be land-friendly and low-emissions compared to traditional mining techniques.
Particular attention is also paid to the uncertainties associated with the economic viability of the project. Profitability is significantly influenced by world market prices and dependence on China. So it remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether Esso can get its foot in the door of the growth market with its lithium efforts.