French group Arverne has secured an exclusive lithium exploration permit covering 442 km² in the Drôme, after a process launched in 2019. The project stands out because the metal would not be mined conventionally: instead, lithium would be recovered from hot underground waters, alongside geothermal heat production.
This approach places Arverne in the emerging field of geothermal lithium extraction, where the same subsurface fluids can potentially serve two purposes — generating renewable heat and yielding a strategic battery metal. The permit marks a significant step for the company after years of administrative procedures, and underscores France’s interest in developing domestic lithium resources through lower-impact extraction methods.