Mantle8 Expands Pyrenees Natural Hydrogen Portfolio with New Spanish Exploration Permits
Mantle8 has been awarded two natural hydrogen and helium investigation permits in northern Spain, expanding its exploration footprint across the Pyrenees and strengthening its position as one of Europe's largest natural hydrogen explorers.
The newly granted Aralar I and Aralar II permits cover approximately 960 square kilometres across Navarra and the Basque Country. Issued by Spain's Dirección General de Política Energética y Minas, the permits authorise non-invasive exploration activities and provide Mantle8 with the opportunity to progress toward full exploration licences following initial evaluation.
The Spanish permit area lies on the southern flank of the Pyrenees and shares many geological characteristics with Mantle8's existing Hydrogeco project in the French Pyrenees. Building on its understanding of the region, the company plans to deploy its proprietary exploration technologies — GeoLogix®, HOREX®, and APoGeH® — to analyse subsurface geology and assess the area's natural hydrogen potential before any drilling decisions are made.
Mantle8 says the combination of favourable geology, existing infrastructure, and nearby industrial demand makes the region an attractive location for future natural hydrogen development. The company also noted that Spain's evolving regulatory framework, which now accommodates hydrogen exploration through adaptations to existing hydrocarbon legislation, represents an encouraging step for the emerging sector.
The permit awards continue a period of rapid growth for Mantle8. In recent months the company has secured a €31 million Series A financing round, received more than €2 million in French government grant funding to further develop its exploration technologies, and obtained a five-year Hydrogeco exploration permit on the French side of the Pyrenees.
With exploration programmes now active on both sides of the mountain range, Mantle8 continues to build one of Europe's largest proprietary natural hydrogen exploration portfolios while expanding its technology-driven approach to identifying potential hydrogen systems.
Full press release is attached below:
Mantle8 secures Spanish permits, reinforcing Pyrenees as natural hydrogen hotspot
Spain grants permits covering approximately 960 km² across Navarra and the Basque Country for natural hydrogen and helium exploration
Grenoble, France - 1 July 2026 - 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.
About Mantle8
Mantle8 is a natural hydrogen exploration company with the most extensive permit portfolio and the most advanced proprietary technology platform in the sector. Its integrated technology stack - GeoLogix® geological modelling, HOREX® 4D imaging and APoGeH® hydrogen system assessment - enables predictive exploration of hydrogen systems across diverse geological settings, de-risking prospects before any drilling commitment. Founded on two decades of geological research and backed by more than €36 million in total funding, Mantle8 is building a global exploration portfolio.
