The growth centre of Spremberg is situated in the south of the Spree-Neiße district and is one of the centres of industry in the state of Brandenburg.

The region is traditionally dominated by the lignite and power industries. Rich sources of lignite and natural resources close to the earth's surface provide the perfect preconditions for the processing and refining industry.

A lignite-fired power plant of the new generation with two-800 MW units is fundamental to the provision of a stable supply of energy.

In 2008 the world's first pilot plant for carbon capture and storage was built on the Schwarze Pumpe industrial estate. Lignite will continue to be an important factor in the future economy.

The main industries represented in the regional growth centre of Spremberg besides the power industry are paper, plastics and chemicals. Preliminary investigations are currently being made into the future viability of copper slate mining. This will herald new prospects for the region.

The following sectors of industry also fuel the economy in the growth centre:

• Power industry
• Paper industry
• Silicon production
• Textiles industry
• Chemicals industry
• Plastics conversion, steel precision casting and smelting
• Mechanical engineering, structural steel engineering• Manufacture of industrial brushes
• Construction industry
• Woodworking
• Freight forwarding
• Food industry
• Glass-blowing

The available resources and materials mainly include the following:

• Crude lignite
• Copper slate, copper ore and other minerals (lead, zinc, silver, gold), noble earths
• Sand, shingle, clay
• Wood and wood chips
• Methanol, formaldehyde
• Agricultural commodities, e.g. fibrous plants (hemp, flax) and rape
• Decorative and industrial laminates
• Textile fabrics including fibres from hemp and flax