The possible mining of lithium in the Ore Mountains is still being examined. Specifically, the Saxony State Directorate has now opened the procedure for a "spatial impact assessment". The aim is to assess whether the project is compatible with the Free State's ideas on regional development, the authority announced. All citizens now have the opportunity to inspect the application documents and submit any comments on the project to the state directorate, it said.
Focus on consequences for different uses of the area
The impact assessment precedes the actual approval procedure and forms the basis for further planning. The project is examined in terms of its impact on different land uses. This relates to aspects such as settlement development and transportation, the economy, agriculture and forestry, tourism and recreation or mining and raw material conservation. Alternative locations are also evaluated.
Company wants to extract 1.5 million tons of lithium ore per year
The company Zinnwald Lithium GmbH wants to build a mine for the extraction of lithium ore in the Altenberg area in the Eastern Ore Mountains. Around 1.5 million tons of lithium ore are to be extracted annually. Underground mining is to take place below the historic old mine in Zinnwald. The project will also require around 110 hectares of land above ground to process the raw ore. Processing plants and a residue depot are planned in the Liebenau district.
The procedural documents will be available for public inspection from July 7 to August 31, 2025 in the towns of Altenberg, Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel, Glashütte and Liebstadt as well as at the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains District Office. The documents are already available online on the announcement portal of the State Directorate of Saxony (under Infrastructure/Spatial Planning). In addition, around 120 institutions were informed about the opening of the procedure and invited to comment.
Development of the deposit will cost one billion euros
According to a preliminary study, the planned lithium mining is feasible. The project is economically, geologically and ecologically feasible, Marko Uhlig, Managing Director of Zinnwald Lithium GmbH, recently summarized the results of the investigations. The development of the deposit is estimated to cost one billion euros. If everything goes according to plan, construction of the mine could begin in 2028, with production starting two years later. The company anticipates up to 1,200 direct and indirect jobs.
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