Geothermal Energy in Ciudad Real: research permit granted to Earth Explorer

The Provincial Delegation of Sustainable Development of Ciudad Real has granted the company Ciudad Real Earth Explorer, S.L. the geothermal resource research permit named Ciudad Real, with file number CRD12975. The grant is published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha (DOCM) number 158, dated August 19, 2026, via an announcement signed on August 10 by the provincial delegate, Agustín Espinosa Romero.

The permit covers the research of geothermal resources over an area of 284 mining grids distributed among the municipalities of Miguelturra, Poblete, and Ciudad Real, in the province of Ciudad Real. The publication is made for general knowledge, in accordance with article 78.2 of Law 22/1973, of July 21, on Mining, and article 101.5 of the General Regulation for the Mining Regime (Royal Decree 2857/1978, of August 25).

A key resource for the energy transition

Geothermal resources are categorized under Section D of the Mining Law, which groups mineral deposits and resources of energy interest. Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the subsurface to generate electricity or climate control, and its exploration is considered strategic within the framework of decarbonization and the diversification of the regional energy mix.

The authorized research will allow the holding company to evaluate the geothermal potential of the region’s subsurface, a preliminary step to any eventual exploitation. The granting of the permit does not yet imply extraction, but rather the phase of prospecting and study of the resources.

Data of the granted permit

The announcement includes the essential circumstances of the research permit:

• File: CRD12975.
• Permit name: Ciudad Real.
• Geological resource: geothermal resources (Section D of Law 22/1973, on Mining).
• Area: 284 mining grids.
• Municipalities: Miguelturra, Poblete, and Ciudad Real.
• Province: Ciudad Real.
• Holder: Ciudad Real Earth Explorer, S.L.

Regulatory framework and processing

The grant is framed within state mining regulations, which regulate the rights to research and exploit subsurface resources. Article 78.2 of Law 22/1973 and article 101.5 of Royal Decree 2857/1978 establish the obligation to publish the granting of these permits for general knowledge, ensuring the transparency of the procedure.

The announcement, dated in Ciudad Real on August 10, 2026, was signed by the provincial delegate Agustín Espinosa Romero, representing the Department of Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha.

A boost to clean energy in the region

The authorization of this research permit places the province of Ciudad Real on the map of geothermal exploration in Castilla-La Mancha, at a time when the region seeks to strengthen its role in the energy transition. If the studies confirm the viability of the resources, the project could contribute to diversifying local energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, with potential economic and environmental benefits for the affected municipalities.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha (DOCM), no. 158, August 19, 2026, section V (Announcements), page 30540 (official reference: 2026/6057).