Your questions, our answers

As a reminder, operations are expected to last 25 years. However, it is very likely that the life of the project will be much longer.

Imerys will implement a regional economic development programme to ensure the future of local employment.

Imerys will be working with local partners (Pôle Emploi, training centres, trade federations such as France Chimie, UNICEM, UIMM etc.) to obtain the best possible support in anticipating recruitment needs.

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is a standard developed by a wide range of stakeholders. The initiative incorporates the requirements of many recognised standards, such as ISO 14001.
Certification requires an audit by an independent third party, which must be repeated every three years in order to maintain certification.
In addition, the project leader’s report is published, whether or not the standard is obtained.
IRMA is thus a key tool for guiding Imerys in carrying out a responsible project.

Yes, other technologies are emerging, such as sodium batteries. However, as the electrical density of sodium is much lower than that of lithium, this technology would be used for different purposes.

There is also a lot of talk about hydrogen. However, given the current state of knowledge, the physical properties of lithium make it an indispensable and, for the time being, irreplaceable metal on the industrial scale. Hydrogen currently remains an expensive and less efficient solution.

Dialogue with local elected representatives already takes the form of a steering committee with the mayors.
In addition, we have organised visits to the kaolin quarry for local councils, as well as various associations (opposed to the project or not), in line with our open approach.
The Group has also recruited two staff members dedicated to stakeholder relationship management. Their task is to keep stakeholders informed and gather requests and feedback to ensure the highest quality dialogue between Imerys and local stakeholders.
There is a complaints facility on the project website (emili.imerys.com) on the dialogue page and at the bottom of the contact form.

The PINM does not change the fact that Imerys will have to comply with the French Environmental Code and Mining Code (in particular, the Water Act, SDAGE and SAGE regulations, and the regulations on protected species). Nor is there any change in terms of public consultation. In addition, there are the requirements of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), to which EMILI adheres. This international mining standard defines best practice in terms of transparency, respect for the environment and stakeholder consultation throughout the life of the project.

This classification essentially facilitates certain administrative procedures by giving the State the possibility of relieving local councils of the task of making town planning documents compatible and of examining building permits in the areas where the EMILI project could be located, with the agreement of the mayors concerned.

No. Depending on the results of characterisation tests (hazard analysis, leaching tests, etc.), conversion tailings should be stored in quarries or former quarries. These will be selected on the basis of their characteristics in order to choose the site(s) that best meet the specifications and, in particular, the environmental requirements of the project.

Some of the tailings from the concentration process will be used to fill the pit bottom of the kaolin quarry.
Geotechnical characterisation of the tailings is underway to ensure storage stability. This characterisation will be used to determine stock stability slopes.
Revegetation of the backfill, covered with topsoil, is a tried and tested option.

During commissioning, the circuits will be filled gradually (over 12 to 24 hours) using the water stored in the respective plants.

The total volume in the 10-15 cm diameter underground pipes over a dozen kilometres between the Beauvoir site and the loading station, as well the volume for the retention basin, flotation cells and decanters, is marginal and thus does not require significant initial filling.

The net volume of water required each year to offset the moisture contained in the lithiniferous micas sent to the conversion site is directly related to the output of the Beauvoir mine (and not to the capacity of the pipes).

Given the gradual ramp-up of the mine when it starts operations, the net water requirement in the first few years should logically be lower than the 600,000 m3 indicated.

The volume of water circulating in the concentration plant will be around 20,000 m3 at a flow rate of 1,600 m3/h.

It has not yet been possible to estimate the volume of water circulating in the conversion plant, but it will probably be less than the volume for concentration, at a flow rate of 500/600 m3/h.

Granite naturally contains traces of “metallic elements”. The mining and treatment processes implemented will ensure that no elements are washed into surface and groundwater in accordance with regulatory ecotoxicity standards.
Tin, and possibly tantalum, extracted from the granite will be concentrated and recovered.
Arsenic concentrations are very low (approximately 0.002%).

As granite is very compact, the quantity of mine water should be small and will be used in the concentration process.

The quality of the water in the surface aquifer will be protected from underground mining activities, which will take place at a depth of between 75 m and 400 m below the surface.

In terms of concentration, the use of chemicals in the flotation process will not pollute local water because the process water is recycled and treated in a closed circuit that is independent of the surrounding water.

At the conversion site, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology will mean that no water will be discharged directly into the natural environment (except for one-off needs, in which case the effluent would treated before discharge).

Water quality will be monitored and the water will be treated to ensure strict compliance with standards.

Arsenic and lead are naturally present in groundwater within micaschists. Their presence has been known for a long time. Drinking water in the towns concerned is drawn from elsewhere.

The mine will be dug in granite, where arsenic levels are very low, reducing the risk of arsenic remobilisation.

Imerys will implement a complaints and queries mechanism, in advance of the commercial project and through to the post-mining stage, to track any social and environmental impacts and access remedies if necessary.

The chemicals used inside the concentration plant buildings will not give off odours that could affect local residents.

At the loading site, the products handled (lithiniferous mica concentrate and feldspathic sand) are odourless.

As regards the conversion site, the products used do not naturally give off any particular odour.

No. Underground lithium mining limits the project's footprint and hence the impact on ecosystems.
The only Natura 2000 areas that could be affected by the developments are the Forêt des Colettes area for the pipeline to pass under the departmental road (and hence outside the forested area) and the Gorges de la Sioule area for the pumping point.
According to the initial results of the hydrogeological study, the impact on water levels under the Forêt des Colettes will be very limited. All the more so as measures could be taken to waterproof certain parts of the galleries if needed, to avoid or limit water infiltration.
The impact studies to be carried out will systematically include an analysis of the impact on the Natura 2000 site.

No. Choosing to mine the deposit underground avoids the impact of open-cast mining and will preserve the summit of La Bosse.

The choice of an underground mine means that dust emissions are greatly limited, particularly during ore loading operations and during the first part of the crushing process.

To reduce the dust raised by the movement of machinery on surface tracks, they may be sprayed with water.

In addition, the quantities and nature of this dust will be monitored, controlled and will comply with the standards in force.

A Carbone 4 study shows that in France, on average, an electric car has a carbon footprint almost three times smaller than an internal combustion car after 150,000 kilometres; even within the European Union, an electric vehicle has a carbon footprint half that of an internal combustion vehicle.

Source: https://www.carbone4.com/analyse-faq-voiture-electrique

According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), “Electric vehicles powered by low emissions electricity offer the largest decarbonisation potential for land-based transport, on a life cycle basis.”

Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-3/

The main chemical risk control measures will be as follows: closed, leak-proof storage suited to the characteristics of the reagents; minimal quantities of reagents stored on site; access for emergency services; retention systems to manage any loss of containment; appropriate fire-fighting systems.

The teams will be trained in the processes, operation of the equipment, and risk control procedures. They will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for the tasks and work environment.

The chemicals required for the conversion stages, such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, quicklime, slaked lime and CO2 (all commonly used in different sectors) are well-mastered and widely used throughout industry.

The calcination process adopted by Imerys limits the volume of acids used in the processes.

Road traffic will be limited thanks to the use of rail.

Around 15 HGVs a day will be needed to transport equipment and certain products used in the concentration processes.

Yes. The use of certain chemicals will be necessary (sulphuric acid, amine collectors for mineral flotation and anti-foaming agents).

The processes implemented during the concentration stage are commonly used in a number of industries (pharmaceuticals, water treatment, etc.).

Chemical handling and use are subject to specific rules, in which the Group’s employees are trained. Appropriate safety measures will be implemented.

The blasts (between one and three per day) will have no impact on seismic activity in the region, mainly because of their depth. Sensors will ensure compliance with regulatory thresholds.

Mine blasting is already carried out as part of kaolin mining at Beauvoir, and the process is expertly managed by Imerys teams on many sites.

The impact will be minimal because the pipelines will be buried on the verges of the departmental roads and communal pathways, at a depth of around one metre below the paved surface, to avoid the risks associated with frost.

Around 6,000 tonnes of granite are expected to be extracted per day according to the latest estimates.