Why is France upping lithium production?

After years of deindustrialisation, France is upping lithium production to support battery manufacturing and the green transition. An employee at a lithium plant belonging to French industrial minerals company Imerys, in Echassierres, central France. Credit: OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images.

Why are the EU and France lurching towards lithium?

The EU’s and France’s lurch towards lithium is, of course, not just intended to support, and profit, from the energy transition but to buffer an overreliance – and a dominance of future industry – by China, which the US recently accused of “flooding” the market to drive out rivals.

Where will France's first lithium plant be located?

Lauterbourg, a commune at the northern tip of Alsace, will be the site of France’s first lithium plant. This ambitious initiative, led by Alsace-based Viridian Lithium, aims to reduce France’s dependence on imports of this precious metal, essential for the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.

Is lithium de France developing a geothermal project in Alsace?

Lithium de France, a subsidiary of French Arverne group, is also developing a lithium brine geothermal project in Alsace. The company has just concluded a prefeasibility study on surface elements of the project and is currently awaiting its first drilling permit to confirm the resource.

Are lithium-ion batteries good for transport?

By powering electric cars, lithium-ion batteries can also contribute to cleaner transport. The transport sector remains a major contributor to global warming, producing more than seven billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

What is France's largest lithium project?

One of the country’s largest lithium projects, EMILI, is being developed by French multinational Imerys. The project in Beauvoir, central France, where lithium was first detected in the 1960s, hopes to produce enough lithium per year, over 25 years, to power 700,000 EVs.