French President visits Imerys' Beauvoir site: A strong signal for France's energy transition
On 22 April 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Imerys' Beauvoir kaolin site in Échassières (Allier), dedicated to the EMILI lithium project. The visit was part of a broader government initiative to accelerate France's strategic industrial projects, notably marked by a cabinet meeting held in Montluçon.
The President was accompanied by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the Prefect of Allier, parliamentarians, national and local elected officials, and representatives of the State and territorial services, including six government ministers: the Ministers of the Interior, Economy, Agriculture, Regional Planning, Ecological Transition, and Industry.
President Macron was officially welcomed on arrival by Frédéric Delaigre, the Mayor of Échassières, a gesture that reflects the strong local support the project has built within the community since its inception.
A Nationally and Europeanly recognized project
The EMILI project has earned significant institutional recognition in recent years. In July 2024, it was designated a Major National Interest Project (PINM) by the French State. In March 2025, it was listed as a strategic project under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, confirming its importance not only for France but for the broader European battery supply chain. In February 2026, the French State, via Banque des Territoires, made a €50 million equity investment to acquire a minority stake in the project and support the definitive feasibility study, a concrete demonstration of sustained public commitment to EMILI's development.
What EMILI represents
EMILI is designed to be a showcase of modern, responsible mining. The project will use remotely piloted electric machinery operating up to 400 metres underground, combining safety, innovation, and a low-carbon footprint. Once operational, it aims to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, sufficient to supply approximately 700,000 electric vehicles annually for at least 50 years. The project is also expected to create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, making the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region a central European hub for hard-rock lithium extraction.
Imerys' commitment to France's industrial sovereignty
"With the Beauvoir lithium deposit, France possesses the most significant resource for rapidly, sovereignly, and reliably implementing the electrification of our mobility."
- Alessandro Dazza, CEO of Imerys
This visit reaffirms Imerys' position as a key partner in France's ambition to build a sovereign, sustainable, and competitive clean energy industry.
Shaping Europe’s battery future
Beyond the mine itself, Imerys is actively contributing to the policy framework needed to make Europe's domestic battery supply chain viable. The company is advocating for a minimum European local content requirement of 20% by 2030, rising to 40% by 2036, alongside simplified project financing mechanisms and clear, technically achievable lithium content regulations. This presidential visit illustrates the shared ambition between Imerys and the French government to reduce strategic dependence on foreign suppliers and make France a leading force in the global energy transition.
In a major boost to Europe’s ambitions to decarbonize mobility, Imerys’ EMILI project has been awarded a €116 million grant from the European Union’s Innovation Fund.
Imerys Tableware France, located near Limoges, has recently celebrated its 240th anniversary. As one of Imerys’ oldest operations in Europe, this remarkable milestone not only reflects the business' deep-rooted history, it underscores the operation’s enduring commitment to its customers’ excellence, innovation and the local community.
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