Tréguennec (Finistère) is the smallest municipality in Pays Bigouden. From the top of its 320 inhabitants, it is, this Saturday February 26, 2022, the epicenter of a demonstration: for several weeks, the growing notoriety of a lithium deposit has been in the news.
–
The remarkable site of Prat ar Hastel could be threatened by a lithium extraction project in this former quarry. © Thierry Creux, West-France
Local elected officials have come out against any possible mining project. On Facebook, a group called “Lithium in Tréguennec? No thanks !! amassed nearly 9,000 members in one week. This is where the call to gather this Saturday, February 26, 2022, came from, near the town hall, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
–
The town of 320 inhabitants saw its population double this Saturday, February 26, 2022 with the arrival of opponents of a possible lithium extraction project in Tréguennec. © Thierry Creux, West-France
Also read. Lithium in Tréguennec. Many supporters of the demonstration against a possible extraction
This appeal received an avalanche of support. At 2 p.m., about 600 people gathered in front of the old school. Nonetheless, there is no “no extraction project known to date”repeated in the morning the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
–
Stéphane Morel, the mayor of Tréguennec, spoke in front of the crowd of opponents. © Thierry Creux, West-France
A gathering away from the wetland
“We are above all in anticipation and vigilance”, argues Stéphane Le Garrec, who is behind the Facebook group “Lithium in Tréguennec? No thanks !! “. He said to himself ” impressed “ the large mobilization of demonstrators, in just a few days of the group’s existence on social networks.
The demonstration was held on the forecourt of the old school, and not on the site of the wetland, so as not to degrade the fauna and flora. Several speakers took turns at the microphone, including the mayor of Tréguennec, Stéphane Morel; Stephane Le Garrec; associations for the defense of the environment or even Nicole Le Garrec, director of a documentary film on anti-nuclear mobilization in Plogoff in the 1980s.
–
Nicole Le Garrec, who notably directed the film “Plogoff, stones against guns”, was present for this mobilization in Tréguennec, Saturday February 26, 2022. © Thierry Creux, Ouest-France
Also read. Lithium in Tréguennec. Bigouden elected officials want the mobilization to remain “virtual”
66,000 tonnes of lithium
At a depth of 130 m, a few steps from the town’s famous pebble crusher, 66,000 tonnes of this rare and precious metal are said to be hidden, which is used in the composition of car, telephone and wind turbine batteries.
–
The Prat ar Hastel site is classified as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. © Thierry Creux, West-France
Also read. Lithium in Tréguennec. “We cannot give in to a carbon dictatorship”, says the Brittany Region
In recent times, the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, has multiplied the speeches. It considers that it is necessary for France to extract lithium on national territory. And she had been rather evasive when she came to Tréguennec on February 9, 2022.
However, the deposit is located on a site classified Natura 2000, future regional nature reserve, and labeled internationally for its wetlands. Something to worry the local population.
–
