France’s EMILI lithium project in Beauvoir, Allier, is being developed as an integrated mining and chemical conversion operation designed to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide into Europe’s industrial chain. The project is led by French industrial-minerals group Imerys and targets production capacity of 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide.
Industrial Ownership Structure and State Participation
The EMILI project is being advanced by Imerys, an industrial-minerals company with established operations in geology, processing, permitting, specialty materials and long-cycle industrial supply relationships.
The French state, through Banque des Territoires under the “critical metals” component of France 2030, is investing €50mn for a minority stake in the project. The investment is directed toward supporting development through the definitive feasibility study phase scheduled for early 2027.
Strategic Positioning Under European Policy Frameworks
EMILI has been designated a Project of Major National Interest in France and recognised as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. The designation framework links the project to accelerated permitting pathways and potential access to European funding mechanisms. The project is positioned to reduce reliance on imported lithium chemical supply by establishing domestic production capacity for lithium hydroxide within France.
Resource Base and Mine Design Parameters
Imerys’ pre-feasibility work outlines a lithium resource at Beauvoir comprising 373mn tonnes grading 1.0% Li₂O, including a higher-grade portion of 69mn tonnes grading 1.22% Li₂O.
The company states that the deposit could support a mine life of approximately 50 years at planned production of 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide. The resource is described as one of the largest known hard-rock lithium deposits globally.
Integrated Extraction and Conversion System
The project is structured as an integrated system combining underground mining of lithium-bearing mica at Beauvoir with concentration near the mine site and chemical conversion into battery-grade lithium hydroxide near Montluçon. The development includes demonstration facilities supported by financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which approved approximately €61mn in funding within a total demonstration programme cost of €123mn.
One demonstration plant is located near Échassières for concentration activities, while a second is sited in an industrial park near Montluçon for lithium conversion processes.
Piloting Results and Technical Development
Imerys reports that piloting activities have produced nearly one tonne of battery-grade lithium hydroxide under continuous operating conditions.
The demonstration plants are intended to validate processing technology, train operational personnel, reduce scale-up risk and support future commercial plant design for the integrated extraction and conversion system.
Capital Cost Structure and Incentives
The estimated construction cost for EMILI has been revised to approximately €1.8bn, reflecting inflationary pressures and enhanced environmental, social and engineering requirements.
The project is eligible for a €200mn C3IV investment tax credit. Imerys has also identified potential cost reduction measures through engineering optimisation and outsourcing components of the development scope.
Corporate Financial Position and Project Sponsorship
Imerys reported €3.384bn in revenue and €546mn in adjusted EBITDA for 2025. The group maintained investment-grade ratings from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, with net financial debt of €1.391bn at year-end 2025. The company is evaluating partnership structures to support EMILI given the scale of capital requirements and lithium market conditions.
Financing Structure and Public-Private Participation
The project financing structure includes state participation, industrial sponsorship and multilateral development involvement. The French government’s €50mn equity stake supports early-stage development activities but does not fully finance the project.
The broader capital framework is expected to incorporate public finance, strategic industrial partners, debt instruments, potential EIB participation and offtake-linked arrangements.
Development Timeline and Regulatory Pathway
Commercial production at EMILI is now scheduled for 2030, replacing earlier expectations of 2028. The definitive feasibility study is targeted for early 2027, with a final investment decision expected by the end of 2027.
The extended timeline reflects permitting processes, public consultation requirements and project complexity associated with large-scale lithium extraction and conversion infrastructure in France.
Demonstration Phase Infrastructure and Risk Reduction
The project’s demonstration phase includes two plants in central France designed to validate both extraction and chemical conversion processes.
The Échassières facility focuses on lithium concentration, while the Montluçon site is dedicated to conversion into lithium hydroxide. The facilities are intended to reduce technical, operational and scale-up risk prior to commercial deployment.
Industrial Output Capacity and End-Use Applications
EMILI is designed to produce 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide, a volume sufficient to support lithium demand for approximately 700,000 electric vehicles annually, according to project figures.
The integrated production model is intended to supply Europe’s battery manufacturing ecosystem with domestically produced lithium chemicals for electric vehicles and energy storage applications.
Environmental and Process Performance Targets
Imerys states that EMILI is being designed to achieve approximately half the carbon emissions of average global hard-rock lithium operations, supported by France’s electricity mix and project-specific technical design choices.
The project also targets water consumption levels positioned among the lowest in global lithium production benchmarks, based on internal estimates.
Employment and Regional Industrial Development
Once operational, EMILI is expected to generate approximately 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in the Allier region. The project site in Allier is located within proximity to industrial infrastructure and transport networks, including the conversion plant site near Montluçon, which is integrated into an existing industrial zone.
Process Development and Market Positioning
Imerys identifies EMILI as a project capable of producing lithium hydroxide with projected cash costs in the lower portion of a €7–9/kg range, subject to final optimisation and commercial validation.
The company reports that production-scale validation remains dependent on continued engineering development, permitting outcomes and completion of financing arrangements prior to final investment decision.
