Senior Project Engineer

The Company

Imerys is the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.8 billion in revenue and 13,700 employees in 54 countries in 2023. The Group offers high value-added and functional solutions to a wide range of industries and fast-growing markets such as solutions for the energy transition and sustainable construction, as well as natural solutions for consumer goods. Imerys draws on its understanding of applications, technological knowledge, and expertise in material science to deliver solutions which contribute essential properties to customers’ products and their performance. As part of its commitment to responsible development, Imerys promotes environmentally friendly products and processes in addition to supporting its customers in their decarbonization efforts.

The Position

Senior Project Engineer

Job Summary

Project Background

Imerys has launched a lithium mining project (the EMILI Project) at its Beauvoir site in Echassières (Allier, France). The EMILI Project schedule foresees production starting in 2028, with a production target of 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year for at least 25 years.

In 2023 the preliminary mine design was completed as well as the overall process validated and tested at the lab scale. By 2024 the deposit will be characterized in detail and the construction of the industrial/demo pilot plant will commence. 2025 sees the commissioning of the industrial/demo pilot plant. The opening of the mine and commissioning of the commercial plant is scheduled by 2028. The projected timetable will be reassessed at each stage of the project, in particular based on the results of the environmental impact assessments and stakeholder consultations.

The run of mine material will be first concentrated to separate the lithium bearing minerals (mica) from other by-products or waste material. The concentrate is transported to the refining site where it will be calcined with a mix of sulphate salts to convert the insoluble lithium species to lithium soluble ones. After calcination the calcined material is leached and the pregnant leach solution purified through several steps in the flowsheet. Lithium carbonate is precipitated using sodium carbonate and later converted to lithium hydroxide using quicklime. The lithium hydroxide is finally crystallized to obtain the final product in powder form. It can then be marketed to companies in the electric vehicle battery industry.

More information available in the website: https://emili.imerys.com/en

Job Objective

As part of the Conversion plant project organization and reporting to the Conversion plant Project Director:

• To provide Owner’s guidance and supervision to engineering and design Companies engaged to develop the various stages of the EMILI project through close coordination of all disciplines.
• Ensure that designs are in accordance with project requirements and company objectives and are produced in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The job offers a high potential of career evolution within Imerys.

Key tasks of the Project Engine