Zinnwald Lithium GmbH has been granted a permit to construct an exploration tunnel to access the Zinnwald ore body that underpins the Zinnwald Lithium Project.
The project in Saxony, Germany, aims to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide for Europe’s growing demand for critical raw materials.
The approximately 1km-long exploration tunnel will provide direct access to the ore body. The tunnel will start from a portal located at the brownfield site of the former Zinnwald Border Station.
The tunnel is expected to improve the company’s geotechnical, seismic and hydrogeological knowledge of the ore body, provide practical insights into mining conditions, and help to plan the ultimate mining operations. It will also enable the extraction of a bulk sample of up to 2,000 tons for large-scale metallurgical testing to support detailed design and product qualifications.
The exploration tunnel may be incorporated into the permanent mine infrastructure, subject to development approval.
Permits, including completion of an environmental impact assessment and public consultation, will be required for mine production.
“Obtaining the permit to construct the exploration tunnel, following a comprehensive submission process, is an important step in the ongoing de-risking of the Zinnwald Lithium Project, enabling the collection of important data to support future design and development planning. This permit enables the first new access development to the Zinnwald ore body and underlines that the Project meets the technical and regulatory requirements to successfully obtain the necessary permits from the Saxon Mining Authority,” said Zinnwald Lithium plc CEO Anton du Plessis.
