in Allier, a lithium mine project reveals the gap between two visions of ecology

It’s hard to imagine, when we arrive at the summit of La Bosse, that France’s energy future is at stake here. In the heart of a forest which peaks at 720 m altitude, the place overlooks the town of Echassières (Allier), where there is a kaolin quarry whose operator, the Imerys company, wants to make the nerve center of the transition to all-electric. Under kaolin, a clay rock, we find lithium. This is where the first French mine for this strategic metal could be born, which the company hopes to open in 2028.

But beware : “This mining project is not just a local issue”, warn Thierry Panchaud and Jacques Morisot, members of the residents’ collective Let’s Preserve the Colettes Forest. Tuesday March 12, a few hours before the first meeting of a public debate which will last four months, the two men set the tone: “This project is a symbol. It is the emblem of the direction our country will take, at least for the next 25-30 years.”

“No to the mine, neither here, nor elsewhere”

To express their reservations, the two activists met in the parking lot of the Wolframines museum. Among the beech trees, the wooden building celebrates the geological richness of this corner of Auvergne, straddling two departments and two watersheds. In the distance, a discreet fence separates the Imerys grounds from the rest of the forest. Here, the company estimates it can extract some 34 000 tonnes of lithium per year. Enough to produce batteries for 700 000 “clean” vehicles and at the same time guarantee the energy sovereignty of France, today largely dependent on China to obtain this rare mineral. However, the two residents struggle to believe in the promise of a transition that will gently decarbonize transport.

“Threat to water resources, risk to biodiversity, health, chemical pollution, doubts about post-mining…” Jacques Morisot draws up an inventory of the fears which animate environmental defenders here, ensuring, from the height of his 68 spring, not to be one of those “grumpy old people who oppose everything” : “Of course we are in favor of renewable energies”, underlines the retiree.

But according to him, “If going all-electric means continuing this headlong rush and not calling into question the societal model that led us here, we continue to go into the wall. Even if we go there in a Tesla.” Watchword : “No to the mine, neither here, nor elsewhere”insist the two men, who refute the idea according to which electric cars would be “the only solution” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. “Don’t worry, here in rural areas, everyone needs a car, we know the challenges of mobility”assures Thierry Panchaud, with a gesture of his head in the direction of his old woman “thermal”parked on the gravel.

It is not a question of forming an opinion for or against the opening of a first lithium mine in France. It’s about really asking the question : a lithium mine, what for ?

Thierry Panchaud, member of the citizen collective Preserve the Colettes forest

at franceinfo

The same evening, to talk about it, Thierry Panchaud drove an hour from La Bosse to Moulins where, at 6 p.m. hours, the first meeting is held as part of the public debate on this project. Even if he is convinced that this meeting will not address “the bottom of the problem”.

The use of this lithium, “a prerogative” of car manufacturers

Some 150 people have already taken their places in the village hall of the Allier prefecture, where the very first in a series of debates and forums organized by the National Commission for Public Debate is being held. The configuration – chairs set up in two groups, facing each other – also calls for exchange. Gathered at the end of the room, Imerys representatives reveal the main points of their plan on the microphone. “Before forming an opinion on the project, it is important to form an opinion on the context”, begins Alan Parte, vice-president of lithium projects within the French multinational. This evening, he is responsible for convincing the audience of the merits of Emili, the nickname of a gigantic project, “copy” and even “necessary to meet the challenge of the climate emergency”. An ironic comment or a sigh arises here and there. A flag from the Protect the Colettes forest collective was displayed on a chair. It quickly becomes apparent that the participants have no intention of debating among themselves.

Those who made the trip came to challenge the multinational’s arguments and question, beyond the future mine, a vision of the fight against global warming in which they do not identify. By way of context, they rather emphasize “exceeding planetary limits”, “conflicts of use for access to water in times of drought”, “what we will leave to future generations” or the absence of the word “sobriety” on the discussion menu.

“Can you commit that lithium will not be used to produce electric SUVs ??”, asks a participant. “This project is in no way contradictory with a reflection on our lifestyles”assures Alan Parte in response, soon forced to admit that the extraction company “does not have jurisdiction over the use that will be made of the extracted lithium.” “It’s the prerogative of the sector” automobile, he continues, guaranteeing the presumed good intentions of the manufacturers. Yellow sighs and laughter in the room. “How to trust yourself ?”insists a participant later, skeptical about the real weight of this public debate.

The fear of an outcome written in advance

The insistence of the chairman of the debate, Mathias Bourrissoux, loyal master diplomat and microphone passer, is not enough. “Nothing is defined, nothing has been decided”, he insists, while the participants point out several times that the report he will submit at the end of the discussions has no binding impact on Imerys.

We can not emphasize this enough : the project is debated at the right time. It is at the pre-feasibility stage, i.e. before the submission of administrative authorization requests.

Mathias Bourrissoux, president of the public debate on the lithium mine

at franceinfo

An interview given to the local daily The mountain, on February 1, by the prefect of Allier reinforced the fears of opponents. Pascale Trimbach does not hide her enthusiasm for a project “historical” And “extremely positive”. Under these conditions, activists fear that the episode of the Citizens’ Climate Convention will be replayed : following this initiative launched by Emmanuel Macron, during which 150 citizens have delivered proposals aimed at reconciling environmental and social justice, only a handful of ideas have been included in the law.

So, on a local scale, the distrust is palpable. “As citizens, we are regularly asked for our opinion, but it is clear that afterwards, we sit on it”Sophie slices, “inhabitant of the territory” acclaimed by the audience.

Echassières and Sainte-Soline, “the same demand”

“In any new project, it’s normal for there to be questions”estimates Alan Parte, continuing the discussions to the doors of the village hall. “Not everyone has the same level of information and we are determined to do what is necessary in terms of transparency and education”he assures. “Imerys is in its role, it is a private company, it defends its project”notes Michelle Petit, vice-president of the departmental branch of the France nature environment association. “What worries me is rather the fact that the public authorities and elected officials have not taken the trouble to come and discuss. Who is concerned by the way of organizing society, if not them ?”

Outside, Thierry Panchaud, the member of the Préservons la forêt des Colettes collective, fumes while puffing, disappointedly, on a rolled cigarette. More phlegmatic under his hat, another participant – also named Thierry – is no less disappointed : “I arrived at this debate earlier with the suspicion that the dice were loaded. I am leaving this evening with certainty”, he slips. He doubts that it is possible to exchange “while positions are becoming more and more radical”he says, not for activists, “but of those who demonize them and call all those who oppose the projects ‘eco-terrorists'”.

Megabasin in Sainte-Soline (Deux Sèvres), A69 motorway project in Saix (Tarn), lithium mine in Echassières… “These mobilizations are part of the same demand”he assures, and in a movement which does not separate the question of water, that of energy or biodiversity.

Earlier, in the fresh air of the Colettes forest, Thierry Panchaud made a similar observation : “The public authorities insist that the environmental associations opposed to these projects are against ecology. It’s absurd. It’s not an argument, but a way of confiscating the debate”. Hurry up. They have until the beginning of July and the end of the public debate to re-establish dialogue.