{"id":15490,"date":"2023-08-18T07:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T22:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/?p=15490"},"modified":"2023-08-21T13:49:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T04:49:08","slug":"sk-on-ford-ecopro-bm-to-establish-cathode-plant-in-quebec-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/archives\/15490","title":{"rendered":"SK On, Ford, EcoPro BM to establish cathode plant in Quebec, Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u25a0 C$1.2 billion-plant to be operational in 2026; Canada to support C$644 million<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25a0 3 partners strengthen supply chain in North America from materials to EVs<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

SK On announced today it will establish a cathode manufacturing facility in Canada with global major automaker Ford Motor and cathode producer EcoPro BM as they joined a move to strengthen a value chain covering from key battery materials to electric vehicles (EVs). Cathode is a core material determining the performance of an EV battery.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three companies announced that the cathode plant will be built on the 278,000 square-meter site in B\u00e9cancour, Quebec, after investing a total of C$1.2 billion. Under the deal, EcoPro CAM Canada, established by EcoPro BM in February, will manufacture cathode active materials, and SK On and Ford will become its shareholders once the deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Quebec welcomed the investment to the cathode production joint venture and promised financial assistance of C$644 million. They expressed expectations on job creation and growth of eco-friendly business, while hoping that the facility can play a key role in the battery supply chain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The announcement came at an event held at a hotel in B\u00e9cancour where SK On Chief Commercial Officer Min-suk Sung, Ford Vice President of EV Industrialization Lisa Drake, EcoPro BM CEO Jai-hwan Joo and other 150 guests attended. Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne, Quebec Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault and South Korean Ambassador to Canada Lim Woong-soon represented the governments of Canada and South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cathode JV will have an annual production capacity of 45,000 metric tons and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2026. The three companies have been closely working together to establish the cathode plant after signing a letter of intent(LOI) in July 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the plant, the three companies can beef up a value chain of materials (cathodes)-component (battery)-final product (EV) as well as securing stable supply of core battery materials and price competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cathode JV will also reinforce the existing partnership of the three. SK On, Ford and EcoPro BM already have a line of cooperation with their own products. Currently, SK On produces NCM9 batteries containing high-performance cathode materials from EcoPro BM and supply those batteries to Ford\u2019s popular EV truck F-150 Lightning.<\/span><\/p>\n

For SK On, the new facility is part of its efforts to secure stable supply of key battery materials in North America. The South Korean battery maker has been actively developing its battery supply chain in the region where demand for EVs is growing fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

The latest investment also shows that SK On, which currently operates two battery plants and adding four more plants with its partners in North America, is committed to lead the way in the region\u2019s transition to EVs. The annual production capacity of SK On in North America is to reach more than 180 GWh after 2025, which is enough to power about 1.7 million EVs a year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the cathode JV, the three companies can have a stable supply of battery raw materials in North America,\u201d said SK On Chief Commercial Offer Min-suk Sung. \u201cWe will continue to work with our partners to lead electrification of the global auto market.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFord has been serving customers in Canada for 119 years, longer than any other automaker, and we\u2019re excited to invest in this new facility to create a vertically integrated, closed-loop battery manufacturing supply chain in North America designed to help make electric vehicles more accessible for millions of people over time,\u201d said Bev Goodman, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. \u201cWe\u2019re excited for the opportunity for our first-ever investment in Quebec with a new facility that will help shape the EV ecosystem there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy expanding here in North America, EcoProBM looks forward to globalizing our growth in cathode materials, which has been a unique strength of our company,\u201d said EcoPro BM CEO Jae-hwan Joo. \u201cWe also are prepared to contribute to the community in Canada and Qu\u00e9bec and contribute to the development of the local economy, including by hiring locally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis investment shows once again that Canada is the green strategic partner of choice for global leaders in the automotive industry,\u201d said The Honourable Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. \u201c Today, we are strengthening Quebec\u2019s key position in the electric vehicle supply chain, while continuing to build Canada\u2019s battery ecosystem. This investment is good for the environment and for the economy, and it will help maintain well-paying jobs for years to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[Photos]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Photo 1,2) Min-suk Sung, CCO of SK On, delivering a speech at an announcement event for the joint cathode plant project by SK On, Ford, and EcoPro BM, held in B\u00e9cancour, Quebec, Canada, on August 17. (Photo by SK On)<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Photo 3) Representatives from SK On, Ford, EcoPro BM and the Canadian government officials taking a commemorative photo at the cathode plant construction site in the B\u00e9cancour industrial complex in Quebec, Canada. (Photo by EcoPro BM) <\/span><\/p>\n

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(Photo 4) An aerial view of the cathode manufacturing facility upon entering the industrial complex in B\u00e9cancour, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by EcoProBM) <\/span><\/p>\n

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[Reference] Key Partnerships for SK On\u2019s Battery Material Supply Chain Establishment <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Supplier<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCountry<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nContract Date<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nContent<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nRemarks<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glencore<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSwitzerland<\/span><\/td>\n‘19.12<\/span><\/td>\nWill supply of 30,000 tons of cobalt between \u201820 and \u201825 <\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Posco Holdings<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSouth Korea<\/span><\/td>\n\u201922.06<\/span><\/td>\nJoint investment in raw materials such as lithium and nickel, discussions on expansion of supply of anode materials, etc.<\/span><\/td>\nMOU for comprehensive business cooperation in the secondary battery business<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Syrah<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nAustralia<\/span><\/td>\n\u201922.07<\/span><\/td>\nMOU for the supply and demand of natural graphite<\/span><\/td>\nThird-party MOU with Ford<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Global Lithium Resources<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nAustralia<\/span><\/td>\n\u201922.09<\/span><\/td>\nMOU for a stable supply of lithium <\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lake Resources<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nAustralia<\/span><\/td>\n\u201922.10<\/span><\/td>\nWill supply up to 230,000 tons of lithium from \u201924.4Q <\/span><\/td>\n 5 year contract + 5 year extension possible <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SQM<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nChile<\/span><\/td>\n\u201822.11<\/span><\/td>\nA total of 57,000 tons of lithium will be supplied from \u201823 to \u201827<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SK On-EcoPro BM-GEM Joint Venture Corporation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nIndonesia<\/span><\/td>\n‘22.11<\/span><\/td>\nFrom the second half of \u201824, the annual production of nickel intermediate material (MHP) equivalent to 30,000 tons of pure nickel is planned.<\/span><\/td>\nSinged an MOU<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urbix<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nU.S<\/span><\/td>\n\u201923.01<\/span><\/td>\nAnode material joint development agreement (JDA) signed. Upon successful completion of development, will review plans to put it into the SK On plant in the U.S.<\/span><\/td>\n 2 years of collaboration<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SK On-EcoPro BM-GEM Joint Venture Corporation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSouth Korea (Jeonbuk Saemangeum Industrial Complex) <\/span><\/td>\n\u201923.03<\/span><\/td>\n\u201824 year completion goal. Expected to produce about 50,000 tons of precursors per year<\/span><\/td>\nSigned an MOU<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Westwater Resources<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nU.S.<\/span><\/td>\n\u201923.05<\/span><\/td>\nAnode material joint development agreement (JDA) signed. Upon successful completion of development, will review plans to put it into the SK On plant in the U.S.<\/span><\/td>\n3 years of collaboration<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SK On-EcoPro BM-GEM Joint Venture Corporation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nCanada <\/span><\/td>\n\u201923.08<\/span><\/td>\nScheduled to produce up to 45,000 tons of cathode materials per year from the second half of \u201826<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 
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\u25a0 Related articles <\/strong> – SK On-Ford JV BlueOval SK secures up to USD 9.2 billion of DOE Loan Conditional Commitment<\/a> – SK On becomes first global battery manufacturer to win Edison Award<\/a> – SK On to jointly invest in cathode material production facility with Ford and EcoPro BM<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u25a0 C$1.2 billion-plant to be operational in 2026; Canada to support C$644 million \u25a0 3 partners strengthen supply chain in North America from materials to EVs SK On announced today it will establish a cathode manufacturing facility in Canada with global major automaker Ford Motor and cathode producer EcoPro BM as they joined a move … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4,8,644],"tags":[646,930,373,610,608,235,472,487,1415,648],"class_list":["post-15490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporates","category-press-room","category-press-release","category-sk-on","tag-battery-plant","tag-battery-production","tag-canada","tag-cathode","tag-ecopro-bm","tag-ev","tag-ford","tag-jv","tag-quebec","tag-sk-on"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15490"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15568,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15490\/revisions\/15568"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askinno.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}