2024-07-07 08:41:49
One of Europe’s largest lithium mining projects, led by Allier-based Imerys Group, has reportedly been added to the list of “projects of major national interest,” meaning an accelerated implementation process. Decree issued on Sunday, July 7 Official newspapers.
The project to open a lithium mine in Eschassières is part of France’s strategy to wean itself off its dependence on imported precious metals, especially from China. The production of lithium batteries for electric vehicles is a key element of the energy transition, as thermal cars will be banned from sale in the European Union from 2035.
The project, called Emili, aims to produce the lithium needed to make batteries for more than 700,000 cars over 25 years, starting in 2028, according to Imerys. The public debate on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the project, launched in March, must be concluded by July 31, according to the National Public Debate Commission (CNDP).
Create 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs
Imerys believes that its project is described as “The most important mining project on the French mainland in more than half a century”will create 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs.
The Green Industry Law of October 2023 established the status of “projects of major national interest”, allowing industrial projects that are of great significance to the ecological transition or national sovereignty to benefit from accelerated measures or administrative exemptions.
In recent days, Eastman received this status for a molecular plastic recycling plant project in Seine-Maritime; Gravithy’s reduced iron ore and hydrogen production site in Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône); and a large-scale plant for carbon photovoltaic panels in the large seaport of Marseille.
By 2022, 47% of the lithium mined globally will come from Australia (mostly to Chinese processing companies), 30% from Chile and 15% from China. In Europe, only Portugal produces small amounts of lithium, accounting for 0.5% of global mining production by 2022, according to the US Geological Survey.
In May, the International Energy Agency (IEA) expressed concern ” intense situation” Given the global supply of minerals and metals that are critical for the energy transition, increased mining investments are encouraged in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century.
1720515553
#lithium #mining #project #Auvergne #deemed #vital #national #interest #decree
