Operation of new mines in France: “We will have our own resources”

They are in our smartphones and computers, and soon in our electric cars, but also under our feet. Rare metals such as lithium or tungsten are hidden in the French depths. Their activities in the form of new mines offer as many answers to mineral supply problems as they raise questions about their environmental sustainability.

Emmanuel Asch, an economist at the research institute IFP Énergies nouvelles (IFPEN) and author of the book “Metaux, the new black gold” (Editions du Rocher), looks at the potential and risks of opening up this mining activity.

What difference can the exploitation of mineral resources make in France?

EMMANUEL HACHE. We will have our own resources. By 2040-2050, we will need materials to power low-carbon technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels, as well as electric vehicles and batteries. Today we are 95-97% dependent on imported raw materials. The more we produce here, the more strategically autonomous we will be, with the ability to choose our diplomatic alliances as we will no longer be dependent on supplies. We will no longer be victims of restrictions in commodity markets. China, for example, has already introduced export quotas on graphite and other strategic metals.

What might this relocated mining industry look like?

This is a question not only of mining, but of the entire production chain. It needs to be mined and then processed, so industrial metal production activities also need to be relocated. This would be of no use if the ore then had to be exported to China where it would be processed. The outdated image of these businesses must also change, as they retain an image that references Germinal, although the industry is noticeably more respectful of working conditions. Some areas may be reindustrialized during this process.

The opening of the mines will cause friction, do you understand the reluctance of environmental groups and residents?

These are natural concerns and should be taken into account. We can’t hide environmental issues, but the industry has made great progress: European standards are much stricter than anywhere else in the world. For the last 30 years we have been outsourcing pollution by producing products far away, and having these activities on site would also allow us to participate in decarbonisation by reducing imports. We could create new standards for mining and export them. Finally, adoption will require the economic participation of citizens to avoid the creation of “Yellow Vests” who are fundamentally hostile to mining operations.