France invests 50 million euros in Imerys lithium mine project
France is acquiring a minority stake in the Emili lithium project to support electric vehicle battery production. Mining operations are set to begin in 2030.
Insights:
The French state announced on February 11, 2026, that it will invest 50 million euros to acquire a minority stake in the Emili lithium project in France 
FR. This capital injection is intended to provide additional funding for the domestic mining initiative after the project developer, Imerys S.A. , reported a substantial increase in the estimated costs required to bring the site into operation.
FR. This capital injection is intended to provide additional funding for the domestic mining initiative after the project developer, Imerys S.A. , reported a substantial increase in the estimated costs required to bring the site into operation.According to recent disclosures, the projected cost for the Emili project has risen to 1.8 billion euros, up from a previous estimate of 1 billion euros. Alongside the budget increase, the timeline for the project has been revised. The planned start of production, originally scheduled for 2028, has now been pushed back to 2030. This delay and the rising costs have directly influenced the state's decision to provide further financial support for the development.
