France's Imerys said its surveys had confirmed sufficient concentrations and quantities of lithium at the site in the central Allier region to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year from 2028, enough to equip 700,000 electric vehicles annually.

Lithium is a key component of batteries for electric vehicles.

Europe mines and processes little of the mineral, however, raising questions about whether it is trading dependence on crude oil for lithium as it phases out the sale of cars with internal combustion engines by 2035.

Imerys said the mine will "increase Europe's industrial sovereignty at a time when car and battery manufacturers are heavily dependent on imported lithium, which is a key element in the energy transition".

The approximately one-billion-euro ($1 billion) project will mine lithium underground to limit environmental damage on the surface and meet responsible mining standards.

Imerys said it aims for the project to produce lithium with less than half of the CO2 emissions of typical existing hard rock lithium operations by using an electric mining fleet, low carbon transportation options and low carbon electricity.

The mine is expected to operate for 25 years.

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IMERYS