Black Dragon Gold Opens Public Consultation for Salave Amid Local Debate

Strategic Progress in Regulatory Process

Black Dragon Gold (ASX, BDG) has announced a significant milestone in the development of its Salave Gold Project in northern Spain. The Principality of Asturias’ SEKUENS Agency has opened a public consultation period running from 28 July to 25 August 2025. This consultation focuses on the proposed change of land use designation from agricultural to industrial, a necessary step for the project’s future surface infrastructure.

This phase is part of the broader PIER application process under a new strategic investments law passed in December 2024. While not the final approval, the consultation is a legally mandated step before the Agency can make its recommendation to the governing board, which includes the Asturian President and Ministers.

Navigating Local Opposition and Legal Challenges

The project has faced hurdles at the municipal level. In November 2024, the Municipality of Tapia de Casareigo rejected Black Dragon’s request to initiate urban planning changes. The company has since lodged an appeal with the High Court of Asturias, disputing the council’s rationale. Despite this, Black Dragon has maintained close cooperation with the SEKUENS Agency throughout the first half of 2025, ensuring all necessary data and documentation have been provided to support the project’s merits.

Community Support Amid Economic Concerns

Independent opinion polls conducted in spring 2025 reveal a majority community support exceeding 63%, contingent on the company fulfilling its legal and environmental commitments. The local population’s concerns about unemployment, ageing demographics, and lack of industry resonate strongly with the project’s promise of sustainable development and job creation. Notably, Tapia de Casareigo has experienced a nearly 9% population decline over the past decade, with retirees now outnumbering employed residents for the first time in its history.

Black Dragon’s Executive Chairman, Dominic Roberts, expressed optimism about the consultation phase, highlighting the company’s readiness to engage with community feedback and work collaboratively with regional authorities to align the project with local expectations.

Looking Ahead

The Salave Gold Project remains one of Europe’s largest undeveloped gold resources, with measured and indicated mineral resources totaling over 1.2 million ounces of gold. The outcome of the public consultation, the ongoing legal appeal, and the final decision by the Principality’s governing board will be pivotal in determining the project’s trajectory. Black Dragon’s adherence to due process and community engagement will be critical as it seeks to balance regulatory requirements with local economic aspirations.