Inherited from the mining past of its ancestor the “Société minière et métallurgique de Peñarroya”, the Recylex Group is responsible for monitoring or rehabilitating some thirty mining concessions in France.
The rehabilitation of these concessions are designed by a safety program validated and periodically updated with the Ministries of Industry and Ecology as well as local authorities. The French Mining Code defines the procedure for the mining concessions works finalization. These works consist first of all in securing the mining installations and the old deposits before the administrative step of retrocession to the French State, formalized by the publication of a ministerial decree.
Each rehabilitation project is subject to its own specifications and is conducted under the control of the French mining and environmental authorities. Particular attention is paid to safeguarding and protecting the flora and protected species. The land owned by Recylex S.A. will remain in its perimeter mainly for security reasons.
Recylex does not expect nor forecast any return on investment for these rehabilitations projects, some future uses can be studied according to their technical possibility (solar farms, speleology, scientific partnerships, etc.). In accordance with the Mining Code which stipulates that the retrocession to the State of mining concessions not exploited for 10 years is automatic, Recylex has renounced to all of its last mining titles as of December 31, 2018. On this date, works remain to be done at only one mine site and Recylex remains liable for the operation of 3 mining water treatment plants.