Coillte Faces Criticism for Delaying Lithium Exploration in Wicklow Forest

Coillte, the state-owned forestry enterprise, has yet to grant permission to a lithium exploration company seeking to conduct drilling operations on its land in Wicklow. Blackstairs Lithium Ltd, in which the Chinese company Gangfeng holds a 51% stake, submitted a request to Coillte in August last year for an exploratory drilling program. This authorization from Coillte represents the final piece of official approval needed, following the prospecting license granted by the Department of the Environment.

However, Blackstairs Lithium Ltd has not received confirmation regarding its drilling activities within Coillte's Moylisha Hill forest. In response to stakeholder feedback, Coillte has referred the matter to the Department of the Environment, which holds jurisdiction over prospecting licenses.

In September of last year, Coillte approached the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO), one of its divisions, seeking guidance on granting access to its lands to Blackstairs Lithium Ltd. The GSRO conducted an environmental screening assessment of Blackstairs' exploration drilling application under its prospecting license, with independent environmental specialists determining that significant environmental impacts were unlikely. However, any drilling authorization by the GSRO is contingent upon consent from the relevant landowner or tenant.

The permission granted, valid until August 2025, allows for up to 40 drillholes. Blackstairs Lithium Ltd has indicated its readiness to mobilize drill rigs within 14 days upon obtaining access to Coillte land. Discussions have also taken place between the company, a joint venture between Gangfeng and International Lithium Corp based in Vancouver, and Coillte regarding the felling of up to 100 Sitka spruce trees on the site, to be conducted by Coillte staff. The maximum planned drill-hole depth is 235 meters.

The value of lithium has witnessed a significant surge in recent years due to its pivotal role in achieving net-zero emissions. Lithium, prized for its energy storage capabilities and lightweight properties, is a vital component in batteries for electric vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones. While lithium production is primarily concentrated in Australia and South America, renewed interest in potential deposits has prompted exploration in areas such as the Moylisha site, straddling the Carlow-Wicklow border, and the Dublin Mountains.

The economic viability of a lithium deposit in Ireland hinges on its size surpassing those in Canada, Australia, or mainland Europe, owing to the high costs of business operations and bureaucratic hurdles. The Government's position statement on mining, issued in December 2022, underscores the need for a robust regulatory framework supporting environmentally sustainable mineral exploration and mining.

Presently, there are no state mining licenses for lithium in Ireland, and no applications have been filed, as economically viable deposits have yet to be identified. However, prospecting licenses, which permit exploration activities such as geological mapping and sampling, have been issued. Despite assurances that prospecting activities are temporary and entail minimal disturbance, concerns persist in Wicklow regarding the potential environmental impacts of exploratory drilling. A campaign group called 'Protect Moylisha Hill' has emerged to voice these concerns, prompting the council to engage with the Department following discussions on February 12.