Lithium de France is finalizing its initial geothermal extraction wells in Schwabwiller, northern Alsace, marking a significant step toward domestic production of the critical battery metal.
The company aims to begin industrial-scale operations as early as 2028, a timeline that would position France as a key European supplier of lithium outside traditional mining methods.
The project leverages geothermal brine extraction, a technique that taps into underground reservoirs rich in lithium rather than relying on surface mining or hard-rock extraction.
This approach aligns with broader European efforts to diversify supply chains for critical raw materials, which remain heavily dependent on imports from China, Australia, and South America.
According to Challenges, the initiative could eventually cover approximately one-third of France’s lithium needs, a substantial share for a country that has historically imported nearly all of its supply.
The development comes as the European Union accelerates its Critical Raw Materials Act implementation, seeking to secure domestic processing and extraction capabilities for battery-grade minerals.