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SLOVAKANTIMONYCORPORATION
SK
A meadow at the edge of the forest

Exploration and permitting

Exploration is not a permit to mine.

The purpose of exploration is to obtain the information needed for further decisions.

Neither the existence of a deposit nor favourable geological results mean that mining will begin. Between today's exploration and any future operation lie expert studies, feasibility assessments and the relevant permitting procedures.

Exploration has its conditions too

Each exploration activity must respect the required legal procedures, permits and consents. Depending on the nature of the work, these mainly concern the protection of nature and water, waste management, access to land, safety and the restoration of affected sites.

At the same time, expert studies and environmental data must be prepared to allow further development to be assessed. The scope of the requirements depends on the specific activity and its possible impacts.

Status of the exploration area

The Trojárová exploration area was designated by the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic by a decision of 26 September 2022, which became final on 18 October 2022. In 2026 the ministry decided to cancel the exploration area; Slovak Antimony Corporation has filed an appeal (rozklad) against this decision.

On 7 July 2026 Slovak Antimony Corporation filed an application to extend the validity of the exploration area. On 15 October 2026 the ministry completed the fact-finding and the gathering of documentation and decided that the company had met the conditions of the Geological Act for extending the validity of the exploration area until 2030. The extension decision imposes on SAC a set of conditions that are a binding part of the exploration work. The company will comply with them in full.

How decisions on the next steps are made

  1. Understanding the area

    Geological and environmental data are meant to clarify the characteristics of the deposit, the state of the water and the natural environment, and possible risks.

  2. Assessing the options

    Technical and economic studies are meant to examine the feasibility of the project and the suitability of the proposed solutions.

  3. Permitting further development

    Any future mining would only be possible if all relevant legislative and environmental requirements are met and the necessary permits are obtained.