Electric Vehicles: A New Lithium Deposit in France

Imerys announces a new lithium extraction mine capable of powering 700,000 electric car batteries per year.

Electric cars are already a better solution for reducing CO₂ emissions. But to improve their impact, building batteries and extracting the necessary lithium in Europe is essential. In this regard, a new lithium mine will soon emerge in France.

What can power 700,000 electric cars

This is the company Imerys, a specialist in minerals for industry, announcing a new extraction site in Beauvoir (Allier). It is named Emili, meaning “Exploitation of Mica Lithium-bearing”. Already producing kaolin for the ceramic industry, this site is expected to supply 34,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually. That’s enough material for the batteries of 700,000 electric vehicles.

“This project, exemplary in environmental and climate terms, will drastically reduce our dependence on lithium imports,” declared Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy, “and will contribute to the goal set by the President of the Republic to produce 2 million electric vehicles in France by 2030, with government support.”

French lithium by 2028: but what impact?

Imerys specifies that the investment will be around one billion euros and that the project will generate 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. The cost of lithium will range between 7 and 9 €/kg, an “especially competitive level on the European market” assures the company.

For those concerned about the impact of this mine, Imerys attempts to reassure. The mining group states that it has “emissions less than half of all existing hard-rock lithium operations worldwide”. To do this, it presents three arguments:

• An electric mining fleet;
• Transport via underground conduits, by train;
• Use of the low-carbon French electricity mix.

Finally, Imerys adds “the use of underground mining techniques to minimize the impact on natural habitats”. But patience, production will only begin in 2028. In the meantime, the geothermal lithium site EuGeLi in Soultz-sous-Forêts is expected to get ahead.

Read also: Ademe: is the electric car “reasonable with a 60 kWh battery”?