Ersterteilung der Bergbauerlaubnis beantragen

If you or your company would like to explore one or more mineral resources, you must apply for a mining permit from the relevant mining authority.

The mining permit covers so-called non-mining mineral resources that are of particular economic importance. These include energy resources such as hard coal and lignite or crude oil and natural gas, as well as precious and non-ferrous metals and salts.

The area covered by the permit is limited to the earth's surface and theoretically extends to the center of the earth. This does not apply to geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is only a non-mineable resource from a depth of 400 meters below ground level.

• Permit application
• Work program with the following information:
  • Period for which you are applying for a permit
  • Description of the planned work and the type of exploration
  • planned financial expenditure
  • Expected schedule for the exploration activities
• in the case of commercial exploration permits, details of:
  • Applicant or the applicant
  • company management
  • Company name and registered office
  • Extract from the commercial register
• Proof of your financial capacity depending on the type of exploration permit applied for:
  • by means of balance sheets, bank statements, loan commitments showing the extent to which expenses will be financed from own funds, loans or public subsidies
  • for all types of mining permits, the planned activities must be fully financed for the entire term of the permit
• A map drawn up in accordance with the criteria of the Mining Ordinance:
  • Mining permits are not issued across state borders.
  • Scale 1:25,000, 1:50,000 or 1:100,000

The fee for commercial purposes is between € 680 and € 6850, for scientific purposes between € 340 and € 1360.

You can apply for the permit online via the "BergPass" platform or in writing to your local mountain authority.

Apply for a permit online via the "BergPass" platform:

• Go to the "BergPass" online platform and log in.
  • To register, you will need a bundID and an identity card or residence permit with an active online ID function.
• Call up the application form and fill it out completely and truthfully.
• Upload the required documents as a file and send the application.

Apply for a permit in writing to the responsible mining authority:

• Contact your responsible mining authority and coordinate the required application documents.
• Submit the application and all required documents to your competent mining authority.

Further procedural steps:

• The competent authority will review your application and the documents submitted. If any documents are missing, the authority will contact you.
• The mining authority alone decides on the permit, but usually carries out a participation process: If your work program contains measures and areas that affect the remit of other authorities or the municipalities as planning authorities, it will then distribute it to all authorities affected by the project.
• You will receive the notification electronically in the relevant mailbox (bundID or ELSTER company account) and information will be displayed in BergPass.
• You will also receive a notification of costs. Pay the fees.

• Objection processed by the competent mining authorityIf necessary, subsequent appeal to the administrative court
• If necessary, subsequent appeal to the administrative court

• Mining Permit first granted
• Prior procedure for the exploration (prospecting) of certain (non-mining) raw materials (mineral resources) in a defined area (exploration field).
• Defines an area in which only the permit holder has the right to explore (prospect) the designated mineral resource
• Permit holders may use a permit to explore one or more granted natural resources in a defined area and for a defined period of time
• Also known as an exploration permit
• Exploration permit refers to so-called non-mining mineral resources
• Can be issued for
  • commercial exploration
  • scientific exploration
  • for large-scale exploration
• Permission is granted for a maximum of 5 years, can be extended for a maximum of 3 years at a time
• Application via
  • online portal "BergPass" or
  • directly at the responsible mountain authority
• Responsible: Mining authority of the federal state in which the permit field is located

In Lower Saxony, the State Office for Mining and Geology is responsible.

State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG)