Anthracite mining operation TYC Narcea submitted to public information.

The Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA) publishes in issue 157, of 14 August 2026, a notice from the Department of Science, Industry and Employment whereby the application for administrative authorization and simplified integrated environmental authorization for the extractive industry exploitation project for the section D) resource —Anthracite— “TYC Narcea” is submitted to public information. The notice, with official reference Code 2026-06633, opens a period of thirty days for the submission of comments.

The initiative corresponds to the company TYC Narcea Special Research, S. L. (Tax ID Code: B02755528), holder of the mining concession “La Esperanza” No. 10.401 and 15 others located in the municipality of Cangas de Narcea, in southwestern Asturias. The file processed is AUTO/2025/8741, and the project is also subject to the simplified environmental impact assessment provided for in Law 21/2013, of 9 December, on environmental assessment.

A project under a broad regulatory framework

The exploitation, development and operation of this extractive industry is governed by article 70 of Law 22/73, of 21 July, on Mines and article 92 of the General Regulation for the Mining Regime, approved by Royal Decree 2857/78, of 25 August, as well as by the General Regulation on Basic Mining Safety Standards (Royal Decree 863/1985, of 2 April) and Royal Decree 975/2009, of 12 June, on the management of waste from extractive industries and rehabilitation of the affected space.

The activity falls under the simplified integrated environmental authorization regime of Law 1/2023, of 15 March, on Environmental Quality of the Principality of Asturias, as it requires authorization as a potentially atmosphere-polluting activity referred to in Law 34/2007, of 15 November, on Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection.

Bodies involved in the processing

The processing splits competencies between two departments:

• Substantive body and competent to authorize the project: Department of Science, Industry and Employment, with processing by the Mines Service.
• Environmental report: Department of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management, through the Environmental Assessments Service.
• Integrated environmental authorization: Department of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management, through the Environmental Authorizations Service.

The final decision will combine the resolution of the substantive body with the resolution of the Department of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management granting the simplified integrated environmental authorization for the facility.

Thirty days to submit comments

During the thirty-day period, counted from the day following the publication of the notice, allegations may be submitted in the manner provided for in Article 16 of Law 39/2015, of 1 October, on the Common Administrative Procedure of the Public Administrations, addressed to the General Directorate of Energy and Mining, Mining Service. Those acting through a representative must certify such representation in accordance with Article 5 of the same law.

To ensure maximum dissemination, the documentation submitted by the promoter will be accessible during the public information period on the notice board of the Administration of the Principality of Asturias, through the electronic office (miprincipado.asturias.es). The notice is signed in Oviedo on 3 August 2026 by the Head of the Mining Service.

The opening of this procedure does not constitute any authorization, but it places southwestern Asturias before a project of high environmental, economic and social interest: if it prospers, it would involve the start-up of a new coal mine in a region with a mining tradition, in the midst of the energy transition, and its outcome will depend to a large extent on the allegations submitted by town councils, residents and organizations during the public information period.

Source: Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias, No. 157, 14 August 2026, I. Principality of Asturias, Announcements, p. 1 (official reference: Code 2026-06633).