BASF has announced that it will produce cathode materials and recycle batteries in the Canadian province of Quebec from 2025. The group has now signed an agreement that secures a piece of land in Baconcore for BASF.

According to the company, the planning work for the project has already started. BASF is targeting commissioning in 2025, subject to the necessary permits. With the investment, BASF is expanding production of cathode materials in North America and complementing existing production sites.

The new plant on the St. Lawrence River provides ample space for expansion to up to 100 kt of cathode material per year – with the potential for a fully integrated supply of precursors for cathode materials, as BASF reports. The site also ties in well with BASF’s global metals sourcing network, which has a refinery for nickel and cobalt intermediates and the recycling of all battery metals (including lithium).

BASF also expects that the site will provide a competitive advantage through “highly efficient logistics” and energy from “competitive hydropower” to reduce the products’ CO2 footprint.

“As new investments in electric vehicles and related infrastructure are regularly announced in North America, it is important for us to advance our own investments in this area,” said Dr. Peter Schumacher, head of BASF’s Catalyst Division. “Land Acquisition is an essential enabler to further our strategy of expanding our footprint in key geographies to better serve the manufacturing operations of our customers with a sustainable and reliable local supply.”

From Canada, BASF also intends to supply to manufacturers in the North American country, the United States and Mexico. The group is also currently building a factory for cathode materials in Schwarzweide, Brandenburg, and a recycling plant is also being built there.
basf.com