Copper exploration is continuing in southern Thuringia: Kupfer Copper Germany GmbH, a subsidiary of Anglo American, plans further drilling in the Löwenstern project area in the in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district. The company says the work is intended to refine the geological profile at depths of several hundred metres and assess possible copper concentrations in the Permian copper shale. Exploration has been under way since 2021; no formal resource estimate has yet been made.
The company has notified the relevant authorities of its plans to continue the work. According to the state administration, mining notifications, possible permit requirements and environmental conditions are being reviewed. The state authorities are responsible; whether and to what extent a subsequent mining project might be possible will depend on reserve estimates, environmental impact assessments and subsequent approval procedures. No decision has been made on mining in the Löwenstern area.
Local authorities and regional media have reported individual drilling sites and the presence of drilling teams. Among the locations mentioned are sites near Unterkatz, Stepfershausen and Herpf within the licence areas. The continuation of exploration has met with mixed reactions in the region: residents point to noise, additional traffic and possible impacts on the landscape. Supporters stress the potential importance of domestic raw materials for industrial supply chains. Concrete economic effects can only be assessed once reliable resource data is available and assessments have been carried out.
In Germany, exploration drilling is subject to the Federal Mining Act and relevant environmental regulations. While notifications for prospecting work alone are generally handled by the state mining authorities or the relevant specialist agencies, more extensive measures—such as large-scale trials or any subsequent mining—require additional approval and consultation procedures. Depending on the scale of the intervention, these may include nature conservation assessments and an environmental impact assessment with public participation.
The activities are based on the known copper deposits in the Kupferschiefer formation in central Germany. The geological question is whether local structures in the Löwenstern project area contain ore grades that are economically viable. Without a published resource estimate, the findings from the surveys so far remain limited in significance. As of early November 2026, no official decision has been made on the scale, timing or location of any potential mining in southern Thuringia. The Thuringian Landtag is following the issue with enquiries and documents concerning the transparency of the procedures and possible effects on the environment and local communities.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).