Eramet targets 10,000 tonnes of lithium per year in French project

Electricite de Strasbourg SA

26/01/2023 08:03

PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Mining group Eramet  ERMT.PA 
said on Thursday it could produce 10,000 tonnes of lithium
carbonate per year in France in a geothermal project with power
company Electricite de Strasbourg (ES)  EDSP.PA .
    Eramet and ES in a statement announced an agreement to study
potential production, which could start by the end of the
decade, after obtaining lithium from geothermal waters in
eastern France from exploration in recent years.
    Eramet has added lithium to its activities as part of a
shift towards minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries.
    It plans to start producing lithium next year in Argentina
in a joint venture with Chinese steel group Tsingshan, with an
initial annual output objective of 24,000 tonnes of lithium
carbonate equivalent.
    Eramet is among companies testing geothermal extraction of
lithium in the Rhine basin near the French-German border.
    A final investment decision by Eramet and ES on production
is expected within four years, they said, adding their targetted
lithium output would meet demand for around 250,000 electric
vehicle batteries per year.
    The project could bolster French supply of lithium after
mineral group Imerys  IMTP.PA  last year announced plans to
produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually from 2028 in
central France. 
    Eramet is also planning to develop recycling of electric
vehicle batteries in France with Suez  SEVI.PA .
 (Reporting by Gus Trompiz; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((gus.trompiz@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 52 18; Reuters
Messaging: gus.trompiz.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))