Loyalist Township, ON, Canada – In a significant development for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Umicore Rechargeable Battery Materials Canada Inc. has revealed plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in Loyalist Township. This facility will be dedicated to the production of cathode active materials (CAM) and precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), vital components in the creation of high-performance EV batteries.
The ambitious project, with a maximum investment of $2.761 billion, is set to be carried out in several phases. Umicore has officially committed to the initial phase, which amounts to $2.1 billion, out of which $1.8 billion will be allocated to capital expenditures. This stage will result in a battery materials production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year.
Supporting this initiative, the Government of Canada will contribute up to $551.3 million, while the Government of Ontario is pledging an investment of up to $424.6 million.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, emphasized the potential of Canada as a global leader in the green economy. He stated, “Canada has everything it needs to be a global leader in the green economy: access to global markets, a talented workforce, clean energy, world-leading innovation ecosystems and all the critical mineral resources necessary to make EV batteries. This is the reason why Umicore has chosen Canada and Loyalist Township as the place to build its new electric vehicle battery materials plant, one that will produce green battery components. This project will bring great economic benefits to Ontario and create well-paying jobs for Canadians, and it is strengthening Canada’s position as the green supplier of choice.”
The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, echoed the sentiment, underlining the significance of Umicore’s investment in bolstering the electric vehicle and battery supply chain in Ontario. He expressed, “Umicore’s investment represents another strong vote of confidence in our rapidly growing electric vehicle and battery supply chain. Together, with our government, industry and labor partners, we’re putting our auto sector back on the map, attracting billions of dollars in new investments, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and ensuring the cars of the future will be made in Ontario, from start to finish.”
Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore, explained that this investment is the final step in establishing a global production presence for sustainable EV battery materials, emphasizing the security of supply for customers worldwide.
By combining the production of precursor (pCAM) and CAM, Umicore’s facility will fill a crucial gap in North America’s EV battery value chain, linking natural resources to EVs. The plant is designed to manufacture advanced high-nickel technologies and is prepared for upcoming battery chemistries, including manganese-rich HLM and solid-state batteries.
The engineering and permitting processes are currently underway, with construction scheduled to commence later this year on the 141-hectare/350-acre site. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, with production scaling up from 2026.
Umicore, a company dedicated to circular materials technology, focuses on reducing emissions, powering future vehicles and technologies, and recycling metals. The establishment of this new facility adds to its existing presence in Ontario, which includes a precious metals business in Markham and an emissions catalyst business in Burlington.