Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega & Emmanuel Hache.
© IFPEN / IFRI
Extract from the interview with Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega and Emmanuel Hache, published in full in BRGM's journal Géosciences no.29: "Talking about Earth".
The energy and digital transitions, which require many mineral resources, involve major geopolitical and geo-economic challenges. Why?
Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega: Low-carbon and digital transitions require a large number of raw materials, for which the demand is constantly increasing. Metals have been a major issue since 2010, when China cut off certain supplies to Japan, and a crucial issue since 2021, when shortages and export restrictions started to affect availability, while more and more analyses have shown the scale of the increase in future needs. European countries, which import between 70% and 100% of the metals they consume, are now paying the price for their industrial negligence over the last few decades, and have not paid enough attention to the systematic strengthening of Chinese positions during this time, particularly in the highly sensitive refining segment. Concomitantly, hydrocarbons continue to dominate the global and European energy mix. So there is a dual geopolitical issue: metals and hydrocarbons.
How do you explain China's economic dominance in metals production?
Emmanuel Hache: China, for example, is responsible for nearly 70% of the world's mining of rare earth metals and over 90% of their refining. China's dominance of metals markets is now global, and it is present throughout the metals value chain. This positioning is the result of a deliberate choice, initiated in the 1980s by the industrialised countries, which preferred to transfer their most energy-intensive and polluting industries to China. It has thus become an importer in many metal markets (copper, alumina, bauxite, lead, zinc, tin, etc.), developing from the 2000s onwards a minerals diplomacy based on conquering foreign markets and guaranteeing supplies at lower cost.
Low-carbon and digital transitions require a large number of raw materials, the demand for which is constantly increasing.
How can we overcome our dependence on third countries and move towards energy sovereignty?
Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega and Emmanuel Hache: The Europeans' approach is primarily regulatory. Today, urgent action is needed on the upstream aspects, i.e. mining and refining, on the consumption side, with the diversification of chemical processes for example, and on collection and recycling. The challenge is to construct the economic and regulatory frameworks needed to trigger investment. At the very least, this means facilitating the financial and regulatory aspects of mining and processing/refining projects, measures to incorporate European products in finished products to increase demand and recycling in particular, and also attractive long-term industrial prospects.
Specifically, what resources are available in France to enhance its sovereignty?
M-A. & E-M.: Thanks to the inventory currently being carried out by BRGM, which is essential for a better understanding of our deep subsurface, the existence of potential resources could be confirmed. For instance, lithium, of which there are significant reserves in France, both in geothermal deposits and in rock. In addition, three major French mining groups, Eramet, Imerys and Orano Mining, are a real asset thanks to their skills and investment capacity, provided that their governance encourages such investment and that they have the necessary support, whether financial, economic or diplomatic. But our greatest strength lies in our expertise in hydrometallurgy and materials chemistry. France therefore has real potential to become a major player in recycling. We see this, for example, in projects to recycle permanent magnets, but we still need to ensure that there is a solid business case for these projects.
Cover of Issue 29 of the Géosciences journal
© BRGM
Géosciences No. 29: Talking about Earth
“Talking about Earth” may seem to be a surprising expression for a scientific journal. However, it is by telling this story that the geological history of our planet is most clearly understood. And when faced with the amazing phenomena that led to the formation of the rocks beneath our feet, it is often wonder that dominates.
This 29th issue of BRGM's Géosciences journal takes a slightly different angle from its predecessors, exploring the beauty of the landscapes that surround us, inspiring the arts through science, passing on the Earth sciences to young people and the general public, and protecting our geological heritage.
