Imerys aims to be Europe's top lithium producer with UK project (updated)
29/06/2023 08:01
(Adds detail)
PARIS, June 29 (Reuters) - French minerals group Imerys
IMTP.PA on Thursday unveiled plans to mine lithium in the UK,
a second lithium project for the firm that it expects to make it
Europe's top producer of the metal that is in hot demand for
electric vehicle batteries.
Imerys aims to produce around 20,0000 tonnes of lithium
carbonate equivalent at its mining domain in Cornwall in
southwest England in partnership with British Lithium by the end
of the decade.
That would be enough to supply some 500,000 EVs, or
two-thirds of the UK's estimated EV battery demand by 2030, it
said.
The project is expected to cost "hundreds of millions" of
euros in investment, CEO Alessandro Dazza said on a call with
reporters, adding it was too early to give precise figures.
The project was smaller than Imerys' existing plan to mine
lithium in central France, where it aims to reach output of
around 34,000 tonnes through a 1 billion euro investment, and
Dazza said the UK site would have the advantage of being an open
pit mine with a nearby processing facility.
Imerys said UK production could potentially start around the
same time as its French output in late 2028, benefitting from
synergies between the two projects, he added.
In its UK partnership, Imerys has taken an 80% stake in
British Lithium and will draw on the local firm's processing
technology and existing pilot for battery-grade lithium, the
French group said.
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; editing by Jason Neely and Sonali
Paul)
((gus.trompiz@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 52 18; Reuters
Messaging: gus.trompiz.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))