The untapped potential of the Alsace subsurface
Lithium de France focuses its operations in Alsace. Our head office in Haguenau creates a close relationship with the region, its inhabitants and local officials. The site of the world’s first oil-drilling operations, Alsace is an energy pioneer with a resource-rich subsurface.
It has also led the way in harnessing a renewable, local and continuous source of geothermal energy. Heir to this long tradition, Lithium de France uses innovative production methods to distribute heat and produce geothermal lithium with minimal environmental impacts.
Our sites in Northern Alsace
The four main sites operated by Lithium de France – “Les Sources”, “Les Sources Alcalines, “Les Poteries” and “Les Poteries Minerales”- cover an area of 322 km².
Lithium de France uses a combination of 2D & 3D surveys and exploration techniques to identify geological structures for heat production and geothermal lithium extraction. Using simple wells with a diameter of 20 cm at the base and 30 cm at the surface, water is redirected to its natural environment where it resumes its cycle.
Le Gros Chêne in Haguenau forest
The highest point in the Northern Vosges
Abbey church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul
Fleckenstein castle
The Niederbronn-les-Bains spa
French Oil Museum
French Oil Museum
Pottery Museum
Lithium de France
Geothermal PER
“Les Sources”
Geothermal PER
“Les Poteries”
Geothermal PER
“Les Poteries”
Lithium and related substances PER
“Les Sources Alcalines”
Lithium and related substances PER
"Les Poteries Minérales"
Our Exclusive Prospecting Licences in Alsace
An Exclusive Prospecting Licence (“Permis Exclusif de Recherches”, PER) is a government-issued permit that grants the exclusive right to prospect in a designated area. PERs can be granted to prospect for geothermal sites or to prospect for minerals such as geothermal lithium.
“Les Sources” &
“Les Sources Alcalines”
- A little history...
The name “Les Sources” was chosen in reference to the landscapes of the Vosges foothills and their thermal springs.
“Les Sources” PER
- Geothermal licence granted: 22 June 2022
“Les Sources Alcalines” PER
- Lithium licence granted: 24 July 2023
“Les Sources” PER
The “Sources” PER covers an area of 171 km² north of Haguenau Forest. Its 26 communes (municipalities) span four Communautés de communes (federations of municipalities): Sauer-Pechelbronn, Outre-Forêt, Pays de Niederbronn and the Haguenau urban community.
“Les Sources Alcalines” PER
The “Sources Alcalines” (Lithium) PER covers an area of 158 km² on the same site as the “Sources” (Geothermal) PER. The enclave to the northeast of this EPL was once the historic Pechelbronn oilfield, where operations are not permitted.
3D exploration over 60km²
September & October 2022
Data acquisition
November 2022
Temperature gradient measurements
April 2023
3D exploration over 100km²
July & August 2023
“Les Poteries” & “Les Poteries Minérales”
- A little history...
The name “Les Poteries” was chosen because of the clay-rich soil of the Soufflenheim region, world-renowned for its traditional pottery decorated with flowers and storks.
“Les Poteries” PER
- Geothermal licence granted: 10 August 2023
“Les Poteries Minérales” PER
- Lithium licence granted: 31 January 2024
“Les Poteries” PER
The “Poteries” PER covers an area of 151 km² to the east of the Haguenau Forest area. Its 19 communes (municipalities) span three Communautés de communes (federations of municipalities): Pays Rhénan, Outre-Forêt, and the Haguenau urban community.
“Les Poteries Minérales” PER
The “Les Poteries Minérales” licence corresponds to the lithium counterpart of the “Les Poteries” licence, with both areas an exact overlap. Exploratory field campaigns will be carried out jointly to develop the regional subsurface plan.
2D exploration
September 2023
3D exploration over 67km²
August & September 2024
Our Exclusive Prospecting Licences
Online digital mining cadastre (Camino, website in French)
A geothermal plant: a rigorous and closely monitored construction process
