In a bid to reduce dependency on imports and align with climate targets, France announces measures aimed at revitalizing copper mining and expediting lithium and geothermal energy projects. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire outlined potential steps to streamline research permits for geothermal energy, mining, and carbon storage, with provisions allowing the repurposing of depleted oil and gas wells for carbon storage.
Speaking at a geothermal drilling site in a Paris suburb, Le Maire emphasized leveraging France’s diverse energy resources, including wind, hydro, biomass, and solar energy, alongside untapped geological assets. The proposed legislation seeks to accelerate the revival of copper mining, halted for over two decades, to meet the rising demand for cables essential in renewable energy infrastructure and cross-border power connections.
With lithium projects on the horizon, spearheaded by companies like Imerys SA, Eramet SA, and Arverne Group SA, France aims to cover a significant portion of its electric-vehicle battery needs by 2035. The national geothermal action plan, published in 2023, outlines ambitious targets to triple renewable heat production from deep geothermal energy and geothermal heat pumps by 2028 and 2030, respectively.
