BASF has signed an agreement to secure land for its future cathode active materials and recycling site in Becancour, Quebec, Canada.
“A regional supply chain is critical to ensure reliable and resilient battery materials supply,” the company said in a statement.
“The investment is intended to further enhance BASF’s CAM production footprint in North America by complementing its existing manufacturing sites.”
The new site allows for ample space to expand up to 100 kt CAM per year with potential for fully integrated precursor cathode active materials (PCAM) supply. The site will also be connected to BASF’s global metal sourcing network with provision for a nickel and cobalt intermediates base metal refinery and recycling of all battery metals (including lithium). The opportunity for potential future upstream investment integration supports the supplier ’s strategy to build an integrated, closed-loop battery materials ecosystem in all key regions.
Project planning is progressing and, subject to necessary approvals, BASF targets project commissioning in 2025.
“With new investments in electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure being announced continuously in North America, we are pleased to pursue our own investment in the region,” said Peter Schuhmacher, president, catalysts division.
“This land acquisition is a necessary prerequisite to further advance our strategy to grow our footprint in key regions to better serve our customers’ operations with sustainable and reliable local supply.”
With an “ideal” location along the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the new site, BASF said, offers “favourable conditions for highly efficient logistics and it would rely on competitive hydropower to further reduce the carbon footprint of its products compared to the industry average”.