Lithium: Europe joins the white gold rush

The days of petrol and diesel cars are numbered. In the EU, their sale will be banned as of 2035. That means electric cars will become the norm. They run on lithium batteries, each containing about 10 kilos of the metal. To keep up with this rising demand, global production will need to increase 40-fold in 20 years. Currently, four countries have a near-monopoly on lithium extraction: Australia, Chile, China and Argentina. But Europe wants its share of the booming market. The continent is sitting on lithium deposits but these have never been properly exploited, until now.

>> Watch our Focus report: In Portugal, plan for lithium mine in rural village sparks controversy

France has joined the white gold rush. The country's first lithium mine is set to open in the Allier department in 2028. Large deposits of the precious mineral were discovered by French mining giant Imerys in its existing clay mine. The company now hopes to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium, enough to power 700,000 electric vehicles. 

"We've designed a mine, fully underground," says Alan Parte, Vice President of lithium projects at Imerys. "Why would we do that? To limit the mine's impact on the natural environment above, to limit the noise, dust clouds and any consequences on biodiversity."

In Serbia, a similar project fell through because of local opposition. Acceptability could turn out to be a major challenge for the industry. Many people see mines as remnants of an industrial past, and a scar on the landscape.

Locals near France's future lithium mine have also raised their concerns. Xavier Thabarant belongs to a local association advocating for the protection of the forest bordering the mining project. He explains why he and a group of other