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French lithium: Pilot site near Nancy tests semi-industrial extraction

In Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, an experimental station is assessing the economic feasibility of extracting lithium from rocks, in connection with Imerys’ future mining site in Allier.

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Inside a five-storey industrial facility located in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, researchers and engineers from the Université de Lorraine and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) are testing lithium extraction capacities from European rock sources. The facility, known as the Experimental Station for the Recovery of Raw Materials and Residual Substances (Steval), combines heavy industrial equipment and academic expertise to meet the growing demands of France’s mining sector.

A unique site for mineral processing

The facility applies a gravity-based process to progressively separate mineral components. Once crushed, the rocks yield concentrates containing lithium, tantalum, tin, and feldspar. The resulting fine powder is used for economic feasibility testing—an essential step before any industrial deployment. This semi-industrial model, described by researchers as unique in Europe, provides accurate simulation aligned with future industrial demands.

Strategic partnership with Imerys

The Steval trials are part of a direct collaboration with Imerys, a French company specialising in industrial minerals, which plans to open a lithium mine in 2028 on its Échassières site in Allier. The site, currently dedicated to kaolin extraction, could ultimately supply enough material to produce batteries for 700,000 electric vehicles annually. According to Imerys, a decision on launching a pilot processing plant in the region may be made before summer.

Industrial goals and European perspectives

The recovery process developed in Nancy is currently being tested at a throughput of 200 to 300 kilograms of rock per hour, using ore sourced directly from the Échassières site. These large-scale tests aim to reinforce the development of a European lithium supply chain. Scientific lead Yann Foucaud, associate professor in mineral engineering, highlights the importance of establishing technical and economic viability before moving forward with industrialisation.

A local response to import dependency

As France continues to import all its lithium, current research efforts are seen by project stakeholders as a path toward partial autonomy. Lev Filippov, professor at the École nationale supérieure de géologie de Nancy, states that the extensive work on Beauvoir ore is intended to support the creation of a European lithium sector, which is not yet developed on a large scale.

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