Social licence for exploration/mining in Europe is influenced by other georesource projects such as deep and shallow geothermal energy

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 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.