Arverne Obtains New Lithium Exploration Permit in Puy-de-Dôme
The French geothermal solutions provider has been granted an exclusive exploration permit dedicated to lithium and related substances in Puy-de-Dôme.
This allocation is part of a territory where the group has been engaged for several years and serves to expand the scope of its exploration activities.
A Ninth Exclusive Exploration Permit for Arverne
Arverne announced on September 3, 2026 the granting of a new exclusive exploration permit (PER) for lithium and related substances, known as "Bassin de Limagne". With an area of 442.68 km² in Puy-de-Dôme, it is granted for a period of five years.
This permit brings to nine the number of geothermal PERs held by the group, three of which are dedicated to lithium. The company thus indicates that it is reinforcing its position as France's leading holder of exclusive geothermal exploration permits.
A Subsoil Already Explored in Partnership with BRGM
The perimeter of the "Bassin de Limagne" PER overlaps with that of the "Riom-Clermont-Métropole" PER, also held by Arverne, on which 3D exploration has already been conducted to assess the potential of the geothermal heat resource.
Arverne and BRGM have initiated a scientific partnership this year dedicated to studying the subsoil of the Clermont basin. The teams are collecting, analyzing and modeling available geological, hydrogeological and thermal data. This work extends research conducted under the PEPR "common good" subsoil program in the Massif Central.
According to Thierry Trouyet, Arverne's Chief Operating Officer, this allocation aims to "progressively build a portfolio of high-potential assets and comprehensively valorize sustainable resources" from the subsoil. The new permit opens the way to assessing the geothermal lithium potential of the Limagne basin, in addition to its heat potential, following the model of the Lithium de France project deployed by Arverne in Northern Alsace.
