Local lithium, extracted from geothermal water: in the northeastern regionf of Alsace, French mining group Eramet and Strasbourg Electricty (ÉS) are trialling a pilot unit for the direct extraction of lithium, a metal that is the object of much envy in Europe. This metal extraction and lithium production project "secures part of our French and European sovereignty", comments Ludovic Donati, director of the Alsace Geothermal Lithium project. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES