Lithium has the atomic number 3 on the table of elements.
The chemical formula for the lithium hydroxide used by battery manufacturers is:
LiOH, H2O
Lithium is a very light alkali element that is a critical component in the manufacture of batteries for the automotive industry. It is an essential and strategic raw material for meeting the challenge of the energy transition. Imerys has launched plans to start lithium mining at its Beauvoir site in central France by 2028.
Source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Note: The equivalent of 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate
Pure lithium is a soft alkali element, which is white or silver in color. It is the lightest solid element on the planet, and floats on water. Being highly reactive, lithium is not found in its native state in the natural environment, but only in the form of ionic compounds.
Lithium is found in nature in aqueous salt solutions (brine) in salt flats (large, partially evaporated salt lakes) or – as at our Kaolin site in Beauvoir, France – in clay and hard rock such as granite and pegmatite.
Lithium is widely abundant, but there are only a few places on earth where it exists in adequate concentrations to make lithium mining economically viable. The biggest resources currently being mined are in Chile, Australia and China. There are only a few ongoing lithium mining projects in Europe, and most are still in the initial stages.
Lithium’s physical properties make it an essential raw material in the highly strategic market for lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium has the atomic number 3 on the table of elements.
The chemical formula for the lithium hydroxide used by battery manufacturers is:
LiOH, H2O
The major application for lithium – and the one that has witnessed by far the fastest growth – is for energy storage in the form of lithium-ion batteries. Developed in the 1990s, lithium-ion batteries have become especially widespread in recent years. Compared to other types of batteries, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer and have a higher energy density; as a result, they are lighter-weight batteries with a longer life.
Over the past few years, lithium-ion batteries have been adopted in a wide range of industries and notably the electric vehicle industry, which is growing rapidly. Given the climate challenges connected with the energy transition, that growth is likely to continue in the coming years: according to some estimates, the industry will expand fourfold between 2021 and 2030.
Imerys has launched the EMILI project to mine lithium at its Beauvoir site in central France.
Imerys’ lithium initiative is designed to address the dual challenge of the energy transition and economic sovereignty. It will aid in the creation of an integrated European supply chain for electric vehicle batteries by offering a local solution for one of the most strategic raw materials.
The EMILI project is one of the biggest lithium extraction projects in Europe to date. The site is expected to begin production in 2028.