A Lithium Almost "Made in France"?
June 8, 2022, marked a historic day for the European Union when the European Parliament decided to end the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035. From that year on, only battery-powered electric vehicles will be allowed in the new car market, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. However, to make electric cars, you first need to produce lithium batteries. Currently, Europe imports this critical metal from China.
That’s why efforts are underway to identify potential lithium mining sites across Europe, to meet local demand and reduce reliance on lithium-exporting countries. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has emphasized, "We import lithium for electric cars, platinum to produce clean hydrogen, and silicon for solar panels. 98% of the rare earth elements we need come from a single supplier: China. This is not sustainable. We must diversify our supply chains."
According to a map published by batterybay.eu, Finland, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Austria, and Serbia are key European countries with lithium reserves. Among these, Portugal holds one of the most promising lithium reserves in Europe, with estimates suggesting over 60 million tons1.
Where Is Lithium Found in France?
Regarding lithium reserves in France, most sources refer to research by the BRGM2 published in 20182. These studies explored underground deposits and identified 41 sites containing lithium, with six showing significant exploitation potential: in Tréguennec (Finistère), Chédeville (Haute-Vienne), Montebras (Creuse), on the Beauvoir site at Echassières (Allier), and in the geothermal waters of Soultz-sous-Forêts and Rittershoffen in Alsace. Altogether, these sites are estimated to hold around 213,000 tons of lithium3.
France's Lithium Strategy
As mentioned earlier, Europe is striving to reduce its dependence on lithium imports, and France, as a manufacturer of electric vehicles, is eager to meet this goal. On October 24, 2022, the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty announced the first five winners of the "Critical Metals" call for projects under the "France 2030" plan. Critical metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, tantalum, and copper, are considered essential for the energy transition. The supply of these metals is uncertain, and any disruption could have significant economic and industrial impacts.
The estimated budget is around one billion euros, aimed at deploying projects for the production and recycling of these materials within the national territory, thereby ensuring the resilience of the French industry’s supply chains in critical metals. The goal is to produce 2 million electric vehicles and their key components annually in France by 2030. This strategy will mobilize 5 billion euros in public support under the France 2030 plan to help develop all the necessary technologies within this country.
The Projects:
1. Imerys – Lithium Extraction: Located in Echassières (Allier), this project, named Emili, is set to begin production in 2028. Since 1850, this mine has produced 30,000 tons of kaolin for porcelain and tiles. The lithium deposit here is estimated at one million tons of lithium oxide. The project is expected to produce 34,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year, enough to power 700,000 electric vehicles annually. Moreover, this project claims to be environmentally friendly, with a reduced carbon footprint. It is projected to create 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect ones, making France one of Europe’s largest lithium producers.
2. Viridian – Lithium Refining: Located in Lauterbourg (Bas-Rhin), this project is Europe’s first lithium refining project. The initial phase aims to produce 25,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually from 2025, providing enough lithium for 2 million electric vehicles per year.
3. Eramet – Battery Recycling: The first industrial phase will start in 2025, playing a crucial role in recycling the active materials of batteries, such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium.
4. Sanou Koura – Extraction of Critical Metals from Electronic Waste: Located in Donchéry (Ardennes), this project will be the world’s first facility capable of recovering all the metals contained in electronic waste. The extraction process will be environmentally friendly, capturing CO2 in the process.
5. WEEECycling – Extraction of Critical Metals from Electronic Waste: Similar to the previous project, this initiative will contribute to increasing the production of critical metals by 10% from electronic waste, marking a significant step toward French strategic autonomy.
These projects have the backing of the French government. Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty has stated: "The five selected companies will receive 94 million euros in state aid, enabling them to produce lithium in France or recycle rare metals found in automotive batteries and electronic devices."
These projects are also environmentally conscious. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, former Minister of Energy Transition, has remarked, "Mastering the critical metals value chain for the energy transition is how we can free France from its dependency on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality, as we have committed to."
Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry, added, "The ecological transition can be a major opportunity for reindustrialization in our country if we master the green technologies that are key to the decarbonized economy of tomorrow. That’s why the state is investing in developing a complete industrial sector for critical metals on national soil."
The Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, has also defended lithium extraction in France. In an interview on franceinfo, he explained, "Building an ecological transition where we end up having to massively import products from the other side of the world, transported in planes or ships fueled by kerosene, would result in an extremely heavy carbon footprint6."
🔴 Bientôt des mines en France ? ➡️ “On aura besoin de bénéficier de lithium. Il faut qu’on pense à produire ici”, assume Christophe Béchu. #8h30franceinfo
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) September 26, 2023
Suivez notre live 👉 https://t.co/cEwi3c61QM pic.twitter.com/b0JMKu2vgo
Former Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili stated, "We either decide not to have electric vehicles, electric scooters, or mobile phones... and we stand by that. But if we want to move towards a society with lower greenhouse gas emissions, we also have to accept the consequences. And those consequences include the need for materials like lithium." She added, "Our responsibility is to first secure long-term import contracts with fair social and environmental standards in the countries we import from, but also to seek out lithium here at home7."
French Lithium Battery Manufacturers
In France, several companies are involved in the production of lithium batteries. Here’s a list of the key manufacturers:
Saft: Founded in 1918, Saft has a long history in the energy and storage technology sector. Acquired by TotalEnergies in May 2016, the company produces batteries for various sectors, including military and industrial applications. Saft focuses on innovation and the development of advanced technologies to meet the growing demand for energy storage, particularly in the context of the energy transition and the fight against climate change.
Verkor: Founded in 2020, Verkor produces batteries for electric vehicles. The company plans to manufacture battery cells by building a gigafactory in Dunkirk, France. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports and boost the European battery industry. The gigafactory is expected to equip 300,000 electric vehicles and create over 1,200 direct jobs.
Blue Solutions: Established in 2001, Blue Solutions manufactures solid-state lithium metal polymer batteries and electric vehicles. The company’s factories are located in Ergué-Gabéric, Brittany, and Boucherville near Montreal. Blue Solutions is a subsidiary of the French Bolloré Group8.
Groupe Renault: In partnership with other companies, Groupe Renault has invested in producing batteries for electric vehicles, aiming to meet local demand and reduce import dependency.
ACC (Automotive Cells Company): A multinational company created by Stellantis, Total, and Mercedes-Benz to manufacture batteries. By February 2024, ACC plans to build three gigafactories in Germany, France, and Italy, focusing on producing batteries for electric vehicles.
The information provided indicates that lithium is a crucial material for the production of electric vehicle batteries. Europe and France are working to reduce their dependence on imported lithium and aim to influence the global market by exploring and extracting lithium from domestic mines.
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