Lithium has the atomic number 3 on the table of elements.
The chemical formulas for the lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate used by battery manufacturers are:
Lithium hydroxide: LiOH, H2O
Lithium carbonate: Li2CO3
Lithium
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 by the end of the decade at its Beauvoir site in central France and its Imerys British Lithium site in Cornwall, UK.
Key figures
Source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (2023)
3.1M
tonnes
Global annual demand by 2030
of lithium carbonate equivalent
Note: The equivalent of 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate
34,000
tonnes
Annual projected production at Beauvoir
of lithium hydroxide
20,000
tonnes
Annual projected production in Cornwall
of lithium carbonate
Lithium: A highly strategic raw material
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.
Main physical properties
- Very light
- High electrochemical potential
Lithium-ion batteries prized for their performance
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.
The EMILI project in Beauvoir
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.
Imerys British Lithium project in the UK
Imerys British Lithium (IBL) is a joint venture in Cornwall, bringing together our expertise in mining, infrastructure, R&D, and process development - plus lithium mineral resources - with British Lithium’s bespoke technology and state-of-the-art lithium pilot plant. The project is already producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from Cornish granite.
The Imerys British Lithium project is the biggest lithium extraction project announced in the UK to date. The site is expected to begin production by the end of the decade.
January 29, 2024
Imerys has just announced the selection of two key sites in the Allier region in France for its lithium extraction and transformation project, EMILI. This move is part of an ambitious initiative to strengthen the European battery industry for electric vehicles and contribute to the energy transition.
June 26, 2023
A campaign of laboratory tests has made it possible to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide using granite from the Beauvoir quarry. These encouraging results confirm Imerys’ technological capabilities and the effectiveness of the processes put in place for the EMILI project.
October 28, 2022
On October 24, Imerys announced the start of the EMILI project in the presence of government officials, elected representatives and local authorities.
September 16, 2021
The lithium-ion battery market has vastly expanded in recent years and our Graphite & Carbon business is fully committed to supporting this market growth.
