Thomas Pignide, mayor of the small town of Rimeize (577 inhabitants), in Lozère, firmly opposed the extraction of lithium on his territory on Tuesday. ” I’m against. I want to preserve the natural environment in which we live, which for several years was our weakness and which today is becoming our real strength,” he spoke at the microphone of France Bleu Gard Lozere.
A little earlier in the day, the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, had been contacted by journalists from France Info, on the possible reopening of lithium mines on French territory. The example of Lozère was mentioned as an example.
A mine operated from 1920 to 1960
The minister responded by leaving this possibility open. “We cannot both explain that we need lithium to run electric batteries and on the other hand say, I want lithium, provided that it comes from China, that it comes from Africa and not near us. »
Located on the former Chaumette quarry, the lithium mine was exploited from 1920 to 1960. “It is not at all a good idea, especially since the site is a degraded site which has been buried and reclaimed. in a natural environment, continues the mayor. Its purpose is to accommodate photovoltaic panels in the short term. »