The French government has granted Imerys Beauvoir, a subsidiary of EMILI Lithium, the “Beauvoir” mining concession, covering lithium, tin, tantalum and niobium, until 23 May 2075. The concession encompasses the municipalities of Nades, Echassières and Lalizolle in the Allier department, and Servant in the Puy-de-Dôme department.
More than 40 years after the last mining concession was granted in mainland France, this decision provides long-term visibility for the continued development of the project. It comes amid strong growth in global demand for lithium, which is essential for the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage, and reflects Europe’s ambition to develop domestic sources of strategic raw materials to support its automotive industry.
The granting of the mining concession marks an important milestone in the development of the project. Thanks to the size and quality of the Beauvoir deposit, the EMILI project aims to deliver a local solution that is well integrated into the region and competitive over the long term, from the beginning of the next decade.
“I welcome the granting of this concession, more than forty years after the last of its kind in France. It paves the way for the Beauvoir lithium, will help secure our supply chain, and will make it possible to power 700,000 electric vehicles per year. The granting of the concession confirms the effectiveness of the Notre-Dame method: strengthening coordination among Government services, local authorities, and all stakeholders to accelerate the effective implementation of strategic projects," stated Roland Lescure, Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty of France.
“The granting of the Beauvoir mining concession marks an important milestone in the development of the EMILI project, supporting its long-term ambition: to build a competitive industrial model that sets an example in addressing environmental and social challenges, while contributing to the development of an integrated French and European electric vehicle battery value chain,” said Alan Parte, Vice President, Lithium Projects at Imerys.
A set of specifications governing project monitoring and transparency
The specifications attached to the concession establish a clear framework for monitoring mining operations and their environmental and social impacts. In particular, they provide for the annual publication of indicators to track these impacts and progress on planned measures, as well as the sharing of these results with local stakeholders.
They also govern the monitoring of ore processing and provide for the regular sharing of key operational indicators with the authorities, together with mandatory notification in the event of any substantial changes to operating conditions. These provisions are designed to ensure ongoing monitoring throughout the term of the concession.
A key milestone ahead of the next permitting stages
The granting of the mining concession represents a major step forward for EMILI, but does not in itself authorize the start of mining works or the construction of commercial facilities. The project remains subject to obtaining the additional permits required, particularly under environmental regulations and mining legislation, in addition to necessary financing.
About the EMILI project
Led by Imerys, the EMILI project (Exploitation of Lithium-Bearing Mica) aims to develop an integrated lithium production value chain in France, based on the Beauvoir deposit in the Allier department. The project involves extracting lithium-bearing mica and concentrating it at the mine site, before converting the concentrate into lithium hydroxide in Saint-Victor, also in the Allier department.
Ultimately, the project aims to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, equivalent to the needs of approximately 700,000 electric vehicles. I
About Imerys
Imerys is the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.4 billion in revenue and 12,300 employees in 40 countries in 2025.
