Finance
France to invest 50 million euros for stake in Imerys lithium project
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 11, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 11, 2026
Quick Summary
France invests €50M in Imerys' lithium project, aiming to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually by 2030 for EV batteries.
France to invest 50 million euros for stake in Imerys lithium project
France's Investment in Lithium Mining
PARIS, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The French state will invest 50 million euros ($59.61 million) to acquire a minority stake in Imerys' lithium mine project in France, the minerals group said on Wednesday.
Details of the Investment
Imerys had said in late October that it was in exclusive talks with a potential investor to sell a minority stake in the project, called Emili, for which the estimated cost has risen to 1.8 billion euros from 1 billion initially.
Project Overview and Goals
Imerys had announced the project in 2022, with the aim of producing 34,000 tonnes annually of lithium hydroxide to go into the supply chain for electric vehicle batteries. The target for starting production in 2028 was last year pushed back to 2030.
Production Targets
($1 = 0.8389 euros)
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
Key Takeaways
- •France invests €50 million in Imerys' lithium project.
- •The project cost has increased to €1.8 billion.
- •Production aims for 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually.
- •Production start delayed from 2028 to 2030.
- •Investment supports electric vehicle battery supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions about France to invest 50 million euros for stake in Imerys lithium project
1What is lithium?
Lithium is a chemical element used primarily in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and electric vehicles.
2What is a minority stake?
A minority stake refers to owning less than 50% of a company's shares, which typically does not provide control over the company.
3What is lithium hydroxide?
Lithium hydroxide is a chemical compound used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, particularly for electric vehicles.
4What is a project overview?
A project overview is a summary that outlines the key objectives, scope, and goals of a project.
5What are production targets?
Production targets are specific goals set for the quantity of goods to be produced within a certain timeframe.
