Sardinia will play a key role in the National Mineral Exploration Program (PNE), which was approved on July 24 by the Interministerial Committee for Ecological Transition. The PNE, coordinated by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), represents Italy's return to exploiting its mineral resources in order to reduce reliance on foreign markets while also aiding the ecological and digital transition. Among the 14 regions that were chosen for exploration, Sardinia is distinguished by its geological potential, which is abundant in critical minerals such as gold, arsenic, bismuth, copper, and rare earths. Currently, rising global demand for crucial raw materials—essential for batteries, microchips, wind turbines, and other innovative technologies—has forced the government to reconsider the island's mineral reserves. The PNE is particularly focused on Sardinia, identifying numerous critical regions for exploration. The first phase of the PNE, with an initial expenditure of €3.5 million and the participation of roughly 400 specialists, will concentrate on noninvasive surveys. In Sardinia, exploration efforts will make use of cutting-edge technology. Exploration, which is slated to take place between July and September 2025, will be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, with no invasive operations in the initial phase. More detailed surveys will be completed only in the second and third phases, following a thorough environmental assessment. With exploration beginning in the next few months and expected to conclude in the summer of 2026, the task now is to embrace a new mining era while preserving the region's natural and cultural legacy.