Eramet

Eramet is a global French mining and metallurgy company specializing in critical metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt essential for energy transition and battery technologies. Leveraging advanced extraction and closed-loop recycling processes, Eramet operates sustainably across multiple continents, driving innovation in clean energy materials.

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Eramet is a global mining and metallurgy company established in France, specializing in extracting and processing critical metals essential for the energy transition. With approximately 10,400 employees worldwide, the company operates across multiple continents, including operations in Gabon, Senegal, Argentina, New Caledonia, Norway, and Indonesia. Eramet’s main focus areas include the production of manganese, nickel, mineral sands, and lithium – materials that are fundamental to various industrial applications, particularly in the battery sector. The company’s approach combines sustainable resource management with technological innovation to meet the growing demand for metals in clean energy technologies.

Battery Technology

Eramet’s contribution to battery technology centers on its lithium production capabilities and recycling initiatives. The company has developed an advanced Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process, which achieves a 90% recovery rate from brine resources. This technology is implemented at their Centenario plant in Argentina, which produces 24,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually.

The company’s research division, Eramet Ideas, has created a distinctive “closed-loop” recycling system for lithium-ion batteries. This process maintains the physical and chemical properties of essential metals like nickel, cobalt, and lithium, enabling their reuse in new battery production. Through their hydrometallurgical refining techniques, Eramet can efficiently recover valuable materials from used batteries, supporting the circular economy in the battery sector.

In addition to lithium operations, Eramet is advancing the production of other battery materials, including nickel and cobalt. The company’s integrated approach ensures quality control throughout the production process, meeting the strict specifications required for battery manufacturing.

Recent Projects

In early 2024, Eramet achieved a significant milestone by delivering its first lithium carbonate production from the Centenario DLE plant in Argentina, establishing itself as Europe’s first industrial-scale producer of battery-grade lithium carbonate. The company also regained complete ownership of its Argentine lithium operations by purchasing Tsingshan’s 49.9% stake, strengthening its position in the battery materials market.

Additionally, Eramet has initiated feasibility studies for battery-grade nickel-cobalt production in Indonesia and is exploring geothermal lithium extraction possibilities in France’s Alsace region.

Investors

Eramet operates as a publicly traded company on the Euronext Paris exchange. The company’s historical roots trace back to 1880, with initial funding from the Rothschild family. Recent financial developments include an agreement with the French State to strengthen its balance sheet through debt conversion related to its SLN subsidiary. The company maintains strategic partnerships across various projects, including collaborations with industrial partners for specific mining operations and processing facilities.