A THIRD CATHODE PLANT COULD BE BUILT IN BÉCANCOUR

Talks are underway between Ford and two South Korean companies for the construction of a cathode material plant in Bécancour. The trio, made up of the American giant, SK On Co., a battery cell manufacturer, and EcoPro BM Co., a producer with expertise in battery components for electric vehicles, could make the official announcement within the next few months. If the project comes to life, the plant would become the third to specialize in cathode manufacturing in this region, after those of GM/POSCO and BASF. The site, estimated at US$700 million, would be “the latest in a series of agreements by major industrial players responding to Quebec’s call to make the province a hub in the North American battery supply chain,” according to Automotive News Canada.

In November 2020, the Quebec government announced its intention to invest $1.4 billion to develop the lithium battery industry in order to position itself as a leader in the field to help accelerate the shift toward the electrification of transportation.