South Harz Potash Ltd (ASX:SHP) has received the spatial planning assessment – Raumverträglichkeitsprüfung – for its flagship Ohmgebirge Potash Development in central Germany.
This assessment is a critical step in the development of the Ohmgebirge project, part of South Harz’s 100%-owned South Harz Potash Project.
Final decision made
South Harz submitted the documents, including multiple potential brownfield site options for the development and an Environmental Impact Study, back in December.
This provided ample time for a public consultation process to be conducted over several months before the final decision was published.
The TLVwA's decision confirms the compatibility of all submitted site options with regional planning requirements, expressing a preference for the designated industrial area at Leinefelde.
The assessment comes with a set of conditions relevant to the next stage of development approval – the Framework Operating Plan Licence.
South Harz has indicated that these conditions are customary and readily acceptable.
Spatially and environmentally compatible
Importantly, the assessment covers a potential layout for Ohmgebirge that is almost twice the size of the actual design contained in the recent pre-feasibility study.
Due to the targeted future acquisition of the neighbouring Sollstedt mine, the planned surface footprint of Ohmgebirge has been reduced by around 50%.
The spatial planning assessment is designed to determine whether a spatially significant project can be implemented in a spatially and environmentally compatible manner at the intended location.
This early-stage assessment aims to avoid development misalignment and accelerate subsequent planning and permitting stages.
The answer is yes
Regional director and managing director of South Harz subsidiary Südharz Kali, Dr Babette Winter, said: “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 receives spatial planning green light for flagship Ohmgebirge development
South Harz Potash Ltd has received the spatial planning assessment – Raumverträglichkeitsprüfung – for its flagship Ohmgebirge Potash Development in central Germany.
This assessment is a critical step in the development of the Ohmgebirge project, part of South Harz’s 100%-owned South Harz Potash Project.
Final decision made
South Harz submitted the documents, including multiple potential brownfield site options for the development and an Environmental Impact Study, back in December.
This provided ample time for a public consultation process to be conducted over several months before the final decision was published.
The TLVwA's decision confirms the compatibility of all submitted site options with regional planning requirements, expressing a preference for the designated industrial area at Leinefelde.
The assessment comes with a set of conditions relevant to the next stage of development approval – the Framework Operating Plan Licence.
South Harz has indicated that these conditions are customary and readily acceptable.
Spatially and environmentally compatible
Importantly, the assessment covers a potential layout for Ohmgebirge that is almost twice the size of the actual design contained in the recent pre-feasibility study.
Due to the targeted future acquisition of the neighbouring Sollstedt mine, the planned surface footprint of Ohmgebirge has been reduced by around 50%.
The spatial planning assessment is designed to determine whether a spatially significant project can be implemented in a spatially and environmentally compatible manner at the intended location.
This early-stage assessment aims to avoid development misalignment and accelerate subsequent planning and permitting stages.
The answer is yes
Regional director and managing director of South Harz subsidiary Südharz Kali, Dr Babette Winter, said: “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.”