Norway-based Transition Elements has applied for an exclusive permit to explore lithium potential in France’s Hérault department, with a 218 km² area under consideration across 22 communes between Bédarieux and Clermont-l’Hérault. The application, submitted in October 2023, is currently under administrative review and has not yet been approved, according to the Hérault prefecture.
The project enters public consultation just as global demand for lithium continues to grow. Lithium, a key material for electric vehicle batteries, is classified by the Indian and European governments as a critical mineral. While countries like Australia, Chile, and China dominate global production, Europe currently contributes just a fraction—Portugal accounts for only 0.5% of mined lithium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Transition Elements’ managing director Elizabeth Thompson confirmed that the project has entered the public consultation phase and, if granted the exploration permit, field work could begin in 2026. The company plans to conduct mapping and sampling within a few months, followed by at least a year of geological analysis to assess project viability. A second phase could follow, focusing on geophysical data collection.
Despite the announcement, local authorities have clarified that the permit has not yet been granted. A notice inviting competing applications was published in April 2025, and the process will include public input and an environmental review before any decision is made.
Local reactions have been cautious. Mayor Francis Barsse of Bédarieux noted that it is too early to draw conclusions about the project’s merits, but emphasised the need for strict oversight concerning environmental risks such as drilling impact and aquifer protection.
Geological assessments offer mixed signals. The French geological survey BRGM reports no documented evidence of lithium reserves in the area. However, geoscientist Manuel Muñoz from Montpellier University noted the historical presence of uranium, barite, and sulfide minerals in the Lodève basin, and said geological conditions could favour lithium concentration in both magmatic and sedimentary formations. He cautioned that any estimate of “reserves” will depend on exploration results.
Transition Elements has stated that if lithium is found in economically viable quantities, the company will avoid traditional mining or leaching techniques. Instead, it proposes direct lithium extraction from deep brines, with the extracted brine reinjected into the subsoil—a process similar to geothermal lithium projects in Alsace. The company stressed that the brines would be drawn from beneath the aquifers currently used by the local population, and that hydrogeological studies would be required.
The competition period for the exploration permit remains open until early July.
