“White gold” discovered in this region of France, 700,000 tons will be produced soon

2024-09-09 05:24:13

This is a “unique” deposit in Europe.

It is a discovery that will make the whole world swoon. France has just discovered a huge deposit of an important mineral: “white gold”. This important resource is usually imported from Australia, Chile or China. Soon, the French will be able to enter this market and join the fight with the first producers. Good news because it is a feature that will become important in the coming years.

Indeed, this famous “white gold” is best known by its first name, that of lithium. A name that has become popular because it is an important component of many electronic devices. It is mainly found in the batteries of smartphones and electric cars, but also in batteries. “It has the characteristic of being able to store electricity better than all other materials,” Didier Julienne, a mineral expert, explained. Figaro.

There is in Echassières, in the heart of Allier, a natural lithium deposit, whose quarry will be exploited. Deposit “unique” in Europe, according to project leaders. The reserves will be great: 34,000 tons can, on average, be exported each year for 25 years. Enough to compete directly with Australia (64,000 tons per year) and Chile (39,000), and two China (19,000). In total, this would represent 716,000 tons over my lifetime.

Produced by the company Imerys, this exploitation is more important since 2025, new cars must be electric or hybrid to sell, and therefore contain lithium. According to forecasts, French mining will make it possible to supply exactly 700,000 electric cars with batteries each year. An asset for French companies. Production is expected to begin in 2028.

After this project, however, arises the question of environmental impact. In a press release, France’s Allier Environmental Group ruled that “lithium extraction presents environmental, social and health challenges that are too important to ignore.” The group opposes the need for “extraordinary” water measures, while the sector is affected by drought orders, but also wasted “leading to the pollution of water, soil and air because they contain toxic substances that spread.”

Alan Parte, director of Imerys’ two lithium projects in Europe, admitted to The Tribune that “‘pure mine’ does not exist, in the sense of ‘without effect'”, he said that the water will be taken “either from the Montluçon sewage station, for the transformation plant, or from Sioule for mine extraction , which represents on average one thousandth of its total flow, and less than 1% during the most fragile periods.” The ecological and landscape studies will be delivered between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.