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LG: Construction starts on US cathode plant

LG Chem has started construction of a cathode plant in the United States. The plant is being built in Montgomery County, Clarksville, Tennessee, and will produce cathode materials for use in electric vehicles for the North American market. Production volume halved since initial announcement LG Chem is investing approximately US$1.6 billion in the first phase of the project. The plant is expected to reach an annual capacity of 60,000 tons of cathode material, making it the largest of its kind in the US. It should be noted that these figures have been halved compared to the original announcement of the plant in November 2022. At that time, a capacity of 120,000 tons and an investment of $3.2 billion were planned. Production to start in 2026, customers already secured The plant is scheduled to start mass production of NCMA cathode material in 2026. LG Chem plans to diversify its product portfolio with future generations of cathode materials and expand its production capacity. According to the company, it has already secured major contracts for the supply of cathode materials in North America, including a 950,000-ton contract with General Motors and a contract worth approximately $2.5 billion with Toyota. Sources: https://www.lgcorp.com/media/release/27138 https://www.lgcorp.com/media/release/25594

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China tightens graphite export

The Chinese government has announced it will require export licenses for certain graphite products to protect national security. This comes in response to efforts to challenge global production dominance in critical minerals. China is the world’s leading producer and exporter of graphite, processing more than 90 percent of the world’s material used in virtually all electric car anodes. Beijing’s decision to require export licenses comes when numerous foreign governments are increasing pressure on Chinese companies over their industrial practices. The European Union is considering imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars, believing they benefit from unfair subsidies. At the same time, the U.S. government has significantly restricted Chinese companies’ access to semiconductors and halted sales of advanced artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia and other manufacturers. These measures are intensifying efforts by mining companies outside China to pursue graphite projects and leading to increased research into alternatives. Under the new restrictions, exporters must apply for a permit to ship two types of graphite starting Dec. 1: high-purity, high-strength synthetic graphite material and natural flake graphite and their derivatives. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-require-export-permits-some-graphite-products-dec-1-2023-10-20/

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PowerCo and Umicore JV builds first production facility in Poland

The joint venture between Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo and Belgian materials technology group Umicore plans to build its first plant for cathode materials. IONWAY will build a plant directly next to Umicore’s existing facility in Nysa, Poland. The main objective of this joint venture is to produce precursor (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM). Umicore and Volkswagen aim to expand Ionway’s annual production capacity to 160 gigawatt hours per year by the end of the decade. The investment in Poland is expected to create about 900 jobs in Nysa by the end of the decade and is supported by the Polish government. The latter is offering €350 million in cash grants for a total investment of up to €1.7 billion by the end of the decade. This investment is in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan and promotes the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. This framework supports actions in sectors critical to the transition to a “net zero” economy. Site preparation, planning, and permitting are underway, and construction will begin as soon as the permitting process is completed. Umicore’s existing production capacities in Nysa will ensure that the cathode material requirements of the PowerCo cell plant in Salzgitter are covered at the start of production in 2025. Source: https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/new-european-battery-materials-player-ionway-locates-first-production-plant-in-nysa-poland-17738

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Lyten Establish European Headquarters in Luxembourg

U.S.-based battery producer and materials specialist Lyten has announced that it has selected Luxembourg as the location for its European headquarters. Lyten is a manufacturer of 3D graphene supermaterials used in various applications, including lithium-sulfur batteries. The company plans to begin supplying lithium-sulfur batteries and other products to commercial customers from its San Jose, California, facility in early 2024. It is pursuing expansion plans actively in both the U.S. and Europe. The company is currently exploring the possibility of establishing research and development capabilities in Luxembourg. Lyten recently announced a Series B financing round in which several strategic Fortune 500 investors, including Stellantis, FedEx and Honeywell, invested $200 million. This capital will be used to scale production and bring products such as lithium-sulfur batteries to market. Luxembourg has set ambitious climate targets under Fit for 55, aiming to reduce emissions by 55 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, as required by law. This legal framework contains important milestones to achieve the goal of a climate-neutral economy in Luxembourg by 2050. Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231005565098/en/Lyten-Pioneer-of-3D-Graphene-Materials-and-the-Lithium-Sulfur-Battery-to-Establish-Its-European-Headquarters-in-Luxembourg

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