The French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty is conducting an online public participation from 7 September to 28 September 2026 regarding applications for the renewal and grant of Exclusive Exploration Permits (PERs) submitted by 2gré, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arverne.
" An Exclusive Exploration Permit for concessionable substances grants its holder the exclusive right to carry out exploration activities within the defined area and to freely dispose of any products extracted during exploration work and testing. (Article L.122-2 of the French Mining Code)
A PER is granted by the French State for a period of five years within a defined area, subject to financial commitments and an exploratory work programme. Its purpose is to improve knowledge of the geological potential of a given area. A PER grants its holder exclusive exploration rights, but it does not authorize mining operations or the exploitation of underground resources. Such activities require separate regulatory approvals, which are also subject to public consultation.
An Exclusive Exploration Permit enables its holder to collect and analyse existing geological data and to conduct field acquisition campaigns. The data collected helps identify areas with significant geothermal resource potential and contributes to a better understanding of the subsurface. Ten years after a PER expires, this data becomes publicly available.
Three -dimensional (3D) subsurface exploration campaigns are one of the methods used to identify locations where geothermal energy can produce both heat and geothermal lithium. This is a non-intrusive investigation technique that involves sending acoustic waves into the ground using specialized vibration trucks. These waves are reflected by geological layers underground. Once the data has been processed and interpreted, the surveys provide a detailed three-dimensional map of the subsurface.
A 3D exploration campaign was carried out in 2024 in the northern area of the “Strasbourg” PER, which has been held by 2Gré since June 2013. This campaign helped to further characterize the geological setting of the Haguenau area and to assess its geothermal resource potential.
2Gré has submitted an application for a lithium and associated substances exploration permit (“Plaine du Rhin”) and an application for the renewal of a geothermal deposit exploration permit (“Strasbourg”). These two permits respectively cover areas of approximately 553 km² and 575 km², encompassing all or part of the territories of the following municipalities:
Achenheim, Batzendorf, Berstett, Bietlenheim, Bilwisheim, Bischheim, Bischoffsheim, Bischwiller, Blaesheim, Breuschwickersheim, Brumath, Dalhunden, Dauendorf, Dingsheim, Donnenheim, Drusenheim, Duppigheim, Duttlenheim, Eckbolsheim, Eckwersheim, Entzheim, Eschau, Gambsheim, Geispolsheim, Geudertheim, Gries, Griesheim-sur- Souffel, Haguenau, Hangenbieten, Herrlisheim, Hindisheim, Hoenheim, Hoerdt, Holtzheim, Hurtigheim, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Innenheim, Ittenheim, Kaltenhouse, Kienheim, Kilstett, Kolbsheim, Krautergersheim, Kurtzenhouse, La Wantzenau, Lampertheim, Lingolsheim, Lipsheim, Mittelhausbergen, Mittelschaeffolsheim, Mundolsheim, Niederhausbergen, Niederschaeffolsheim, Oberhausbergen, Oberhoffen-sur-Moder, Oberschaeffolsheim, Offendorf, Ohlungen, Olwisheim, Ostwald, Pfulgriesheim, Quatzenheim, Reichstett, Rohrwiller, Schiltigheim, Schnersheim, Schweighouse-sur-Moder, Souffelweyersheim, Strasbourg, Stutzheim-Offenheim, Truchtersheim, Uhlwiller, Vendenheim, Weitbruch, Weyersheim, Wingersheim les Quatre Bans, Wintershouse, Wiwersheim and Wolfisheim.
This public participation is a mandatory and essential stage in the review process for the PER applications. It enables members of the public to review the applications and to submit comments and suggestions.
From 7 September to 28 September 2026, visit the website of the Ministry for the Economy to access the application files and submit your comments and suggestions by email.
At the end of the consultation period, a summary of the comments and suggestions received will be published on the same website.
