Südharz Kali

South Harz Potash Ltd., West Perth/Australia, is pleased to advise that it has been granted the Spatial Planning Assessment for its Ohmgebirge Potash Development, the flagship asset within its 100 %-owned South Harz Potash Project located in central Germany.

The Spatial Planning application for Ohmgebirge was formally submitted to the relevant regulator, Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt (TLVwA), in December 2023. This application incorporated multiple potential brownfield site options for the planned development of the Ohmgebirge potash deposit.

The published decision of the TLVwA confirms the compatibility of all submitted site options with regional planning requirements, while also expressing a preference for one (use of the designated industrial area at Leinefelde).

The Spatial Planning Assessment has been issued with a set of conditions relevant to the next stage of development approval for Ohmgebirge, the Framework Operating Plan License. All these conditions are considered customary and/or readily acceptable by South Harz.

It is also noteworthy that the Spatial Planning Assessment covers a potential Ohmgebirge layout that is almost twice the size of the actual design contained in the recent Ohmgebirge Pre-Feasibility Study. As a result of the targeted future acquisition of the neighbouring Sollstedt mine, the planned surface footprint of Ohmgebirge has been reduced by approximately 50 % compared to the submitted site options under the Spatial Planning Assessment.

Commenting on the Spatial Planning decision, South Harz Executive Chairman, Len Jubber, said: “This is an outstanding outcome from a transparent and well-administered process. The positive Spatial Planning decision provides a strong base for the future development of Ohmgebirge and speaks volumes to the constructiveness of the entire Thuringia region to new critical minerals development. It also validates the world-class environmental and sustainability features that we have incorporated into our Ohmgebirge operational planning, including zero surface waste piling, zero industrial water discharges, low impact mining practises, grid power utilisation (supplied by + 60 % renewable sources) and a low overall surface footprint.”

Regional Director and MD of South Harz subsidiary, Südharz Kali, Babette Winter (Figure 1), commented: “This is an excellent day for new mining development in Germany and for South Harz. The clarity of the Spatial Planning process always provided great comfort and I believe that the TLVwA has balanced the interests of all stakeholders well in arriving at its decision. We are regularly asked whether a new mine in Germany is feasible, and whether the Northern Thuringia region wants one – this decision suggests the clear answer to that question is yes.” (South Harz Potash/Si.)

The approval process for a potash plant in northern Thuringia has been initiated by the junior mining company Südharz Kali GmbH, Erfurt/Germany. A so-called scoping document for the subsequent spatial planning procedure has been submitted to the Thuringian State Administration Office (Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt – TLVwA).

It outlines two different development paths with various options. On the one hand, the project could be implemented as a brownfield project in the Bernterode area, using the existing mining infrastructure. The alternative is a greenfield project with a new shaft access in the Haynrode area. In addition, an industrial area in Leinefelde is being considered as a site for crude brine processing, transport and logistics (Figure 1).

Luis da Silva, CEO of South Harz Potash, sees the start of the process as a milestone for the revival of mining in the South Harz region: “I congratulate the entire South Harz team for their excellent work in advancing us to submission of the Ohmgebirge Scoping Paper to the TLVwA. We are also excited to present a credible brownfield development option for Ohmgebirge, with all the accompanying capital cost and timetable benefits that this can deliver.”

Babette Winter, Managing Director of Südharz Kali and Regional Director of the parent company South Harz Potash Ltd. is also optimistic : “While we benefit from excellent local and regional support for critical potash mining activities, our commitment to best-in-class development and operating practice remains unwavering. This is reflected in our overarching approach to the spatial planning approval process and our interaction with all governmental and regulatory stakeholders as part of this.”

The scoping document is an important first step in the spatial planning process. Among other things, it will be used to inform the so-called public interest bodies, which will be consulted by the relevant state administration and can then submit comments. The company plans to submit the documents for the spatial planning procedure for one specific site in the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2023. The regulatory authority is obliged to decide within six months after submission of the full application. (Südharz Kali/Si.)