Planning permission granted for SME AG’s Pöhla ore mine
After years of intensive proceedings, planning permission under mining law has been granted for the Pöhla ore mine project, with effect from 30th September 2024. As requested, the permission is limited to a period of 70 years. Saxony Minerals & Exploration AG (SME AG) has been active in the Ore Mountains since 2016, more precisely in the Schwarzenberg district of Pöhla, and is now ready to start construction of the ramp and mining of the ores via the ramp, now that the conditions have been clarified.
Apart from Wismut AG, SME is the first ore mine to be approved, constructed and put into operation as a completely new mine in Germany since the end of the war. The company, based in Halsbrücke in the district of Mittelsachsen, is in the process of establishing itself as an expert in the extraction of so-called free-to-mine natural resources such as tungsten, fluorite, tin, indium, nickel and other ores in Saxony. Some of these, in particular the sought-after tungsten, were explored by SME geologists in an old mining area near Pöhla-Globenstein. Based on this find, the SME experts decided to resume and continue the great history of ore mining in the Free State, which spans over 800 years, in the present day and under modern conditions.
In 2017, an exploratory shaft was sunk to a depth of 180 metres, which made it possible to extract several thousand tonnes of ore. This material was processed in SME’s pilot processing plant in Mittweida, which demonstrated the economic separation of tungsten and fluorspar, among other things.
The data basis for the SME project consists of existing historical surface drillings of over 125,000 m and the construction of 16 km of tunnels, which represent a current investment value of 180 M €.
The EU and the German government have recently introduced an agenda for the promotion of domestic raw materials as part of their raw materials strategy, with the aim of minimising dependence on foreign countries. SME is currently in the application process with the relevant institutions (KFW).
Klaus Grund, the member of the Management Board responsible, emphasises the positive cooperation with the Mining Authority (OBA): “We are very satisfied with the result and are pleased to now have the important planning security for mining in the Ore Mountains. There are justified hopes and expectations for the region with regard to the creation of new jobs. Furthermore, the project is highly relevant in view of the sharp global increase in prices for numerous ores and rare earths, as the corresponding mineral raw materials from mining play an important strategic role in securing the economy and independence in critical supply situations.” (SME/Si.)
