Mantle8 Secures Spanish Permits, Reinforcing Pyrenees as Natural Hydrogen Hotspot

Mantle8, a natural hydrogen exploration company, has been granted two investigation permits by Spain's Dirección General de Política Energética y Minas. The permits, Aralar I and Aralar II, cover approximately 960 km² across Navarra and the Basque Country. The permits authorise non-invasive studies for natural hydrogen and helium, providing Mantle8 with the option to progress to a full exploration licence.

The permit area lies on the southern flank of the Pyrenees, with a similar geology to what Mantle8 is evaluating through its Comminges permit on the French side of the mountain range. Drawing on its deep knowledge of Pyrenean geology, Mantle8 will conduct non-invasive exploration across the permit area, including the deployment of its GeoLogix®, HOREX® and APoGeH® technologies. The data will be processed using Mantle8's proprietary natural hydrogen technology stack to evaluate the area's potential for natural hydrogen accumulations.

Emmanuel Masini, Founder and CEO of Mantle8, said: "Navarra and the Basque Country offer a rare combination of favourable geology supported by established infrastructure, in a region with strong industrial off-take potential. Our geological understanding of this region and its hydrogen potential is already very strong, and we're excited to get into the field to expand our knowledge base."

The permits reflect a broader shift across Europe as governments look to secure sovereign energy sources for sectors where electrification is not viable. With demand for low-carbon hydrogen in heavy industry, transport and power generation continuing to outpace supply, natural hydrogen offers a domestic alternative that does not depend on imported feedstocks or large-scale renewable electricity infrastructure.

Masini added: "Natural hydrogen has the potential to become a strategic, sovereign and clean resource for Europe. However, regulatory gaps are slowing the pace of development. The Spanish regulators have done well to adapt existing hydrocarbon regulations to include hydrogen but there's still work to do. We welcome clearer regulatory frameworks across Europe and will prioritise those where we see the best opportunity to unlock this incredible resource."

These permits come at a period of rapid growth for Mantle8 which has seen it close a €31 million Series A financing round - the largest raised by a natural hydrogen exploration company in 2026 - receive €2.17 million in grant support from the French government for the development of its technology stack and secure a five-year Hydrogeco exploration permit in the French Pyrenees. The company is actively expanding its global exploration programme with additional permits expected to be awarded in the coming months.

Mantle8 | https://mantle8.com/