PARIS, June 29 (Reuters) - French minerals group Imerys (IMTP.PA) on Thursday announced plans to mine lithium in the UK and said the site could supply two-thirds of batteries for Britain's electric vehicles by 2030.
Imerys aims to produce around 20,0000 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate equivalent by the end of the decade at its mining site in Cornwall, southwest England, in partnership with British Lithium.
Imerys' UK development, and its previously announced plan to mine the metal in central France, would reduce Europe's current reliance on imported lithium for batteries, CEO Alessandro Dazza said.
In its UK partnership, Imerys has taken an 80% stake and will draw on British Lithium's processing technology and existing pilot for battery-grade lithium, the French group said.
In the search for battery minerals, traditional energy companies, including Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), are also looking at emerging technologies to boost lithium supply.
Persons:
Imerys, Alessandro Dazza, Kemi Badenoch, Dazza, Gus Trompiz, Clara Denina, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Jason Neely, Sonali Paul, Susan Fenton
Organizations:
Global, Exxon Mobil, Thomson
Locations:
Cornwall, England, British, France, Europe, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Britain, Imerys, Paris, London