Social licence for exploration/mining in Europe is influenced by other georesource projects such as deep and shallow geothermal energy
Speiser, A; Wall, F; Smith, K; et al.Moore, K
Date: 22 March 2020
Publisher
HiTech AlkCarb
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Abstract
The Horizons 2020 HiTech AlkCarb project planned a 300m deep research drill hole, together
with geological and geophysical explora<on studies, in southwest Germany, all carried out to
international minerals exploration best practice. The geology and geophysics were well
received by the local public, authori<es ...
The Horizons 2020 HiTech AlkCarb project planned a 300m deep research drill hole, together
with geological and geophysical explora<on studies, in southwest Germany, all carried out to
international minerals exploration best practice. The geology and geophysics were well
received by the local public, authori<es and poli<cians. However, the local politicians
expressed concerns about the drill hole and requested a long term insurance policy against
any nega<ve impacts. In prac<ce, this meant that the research team could not drill the hole.
The cause of this concern was the nega<ve public percep<on of drilling caused by problems
with two geothermal projects in the region. Although the HiTech AlkCarb team had been
me<culous to apply mining-related best-prac<ce to public and official interac<ons, they had
not realised the depth of feeling and loss of trust caused by the geothermal projects – in
effect, the social licence for minerals explora<on drilling had been lost, and could not be
regained during this project. The lesson here for expansion of mining or geothermal energy
in Europe is clear – that in terms of social licence, the implica<ons of past and present
geology-related projects must be considered together. The public does not discriminate and
neither can industry, regional authori<es nor na<onal and interna<onal legislators.
Camborne School of Mines
Collections of Former Colleges
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