BRGM Explore: Growing activity in support of BRGM

Sampling stream sediments in the Ariège, as part of the national inventory of mineral resources carried out by BRGM. © BRGM Explore

In 2025, BRGM Explore continued to consolidate its structure – including a change of shareholder (from BRGM SA to BRGM Epic), conversion to a simplified single-shareholder joint-stock company, transition to semi-in-house status, and a revision of its articles of association – to ensure it has the resources to fully implement its missions. Since the start of this year, it has been part of BRGM’s tax group, thereby securing its position within the Epic.

The majority (at least 80%) of BRGM Explore’s growing activities consist of services provided on behalf of its single shareholder, BRGM Epic, in accordance with the semi-in-house regime applicable to relations within the public sector in the area of public procurement. These activities encompass studies, expert appraisals and research in the fields of mineral resources, groundwater, natural hazards and risks associated with exploitation and use of the subsurface, both nationally and internationally.

Staff numbers boosted

With regard to the IRM, following an initial start-up phase, BRGM Explore organised and rolled out the annual data acquisition programme across five regions: Vosges, Massif Central, Morvan-Brévenne, Pyrénées-Cévennes and French Guiana's northern furrow. To carry out these campaigns, the subsidiary boosted its workforce, taking on 12 new employees and hiring nearly 80 temporary workers, who were mainly deployed for field geochemistry campaigns. These took place from March to December in French Guiana, and from June to December in metropolitan France (13,367 samples collected). Prior to this, BRGM Explore had worked to keep local stakeholders informed and provided scientific outreach in connection with the field surveys. At the same time, the company began reconditioning historical samples and, in late July, set up a laboratory dedicated to sample preparation. BRGM Explore also issued and supervised several calls for tenders with subcontractors for airborne geophysical surveys, sample collection, sample preparation in French Guiana and geochemical analyses.

In addition to the IRM, the company began providing support to various BRGM entities: the Energy and Decarbonisation Division as part of the IN SALAH GAS project; the Mineral Resources Division for the CASOR project; the Subsurface Knowledge and Geomodelling Division for management of the Geophysical Imaging Unit's stock of geophysical instruments and also for a data acquisition mission.

Breaking up lumps in stream sediment samples – a crucial stage in their preparation – is carried out in Orléans. © BRGM Explore