Mineral resources and responsible supply
The partner interview
Marc Ferracci MP and former Minister for Industry and Energy
Why have you embarked on updating the inventory of France’s subsurface mineral resources?
Marc Ferracci – Securing supply of critical and strategic mineral resources is essential to our industrial, energy and digital sovereignty. The survival of the industrial sector and many jobs are at stake. This is why the French President commissioned BRGM in 2023 to carry out the new inventory. As Minister for Industry and Energy, I was responsible for officially launching the project in February 2025. The goal of this 53-million euro project lasting five years is to keep on exploring our subsurface for scientific advancement. This inventory also forms the cornerstone of the Government’s broader four-pronged approach: understanding our resources better, revitalising the mining sector, supplementing supply through strategic partnerships, and building up our industrial capacity for processing rare earths.
Why is BRGM best placed to carry out this task?
M. F. – BRGM is the flagship of our mineral exploration programme, and the last inventory it carried out dates back to 1995. We therefore need to renew our approach to geophysical, geological and geochemical data collection by using more modern exploration methods. This way we will be able to identify areas that are likely to contain valuable mineral resources. Scientific progress opens up a wide range of opportunities and BRGM has a solid foundation of competencies and recognised expertise in exploration, which is highly valued across the world. The inventory therefore marks the resumption of mining development, this time with viable and responsible mining projects.
BRGM’s contributions and expertise are therefore addressing current challenges.
M. F. – True, because mineral exploration is made possible through an ecosystem of many actors, including BRGM and the French Observatory of Mineral Resources for Industrial Sectors (Ofremi). These institutions play a major role both in improving our understanding of metal value chains and in guiding exploration in the most effective and beneficial way possible to increase France’s control over the raw materials it needs. Identifying our vulnerabilities is key to guiding our industrial and trade policy decisions and forging strategic partnerships through diplomatic efforts.
