BASF broke ground for its new cathode active materials production plant in Germany

On Friday last week was held a ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking of BASF’s new cathode active materials production plant located in Schwarzheide, Germany. This project is part of the company’s multi-step investment plan in the European battery materials market and is another concrete outcome of the work carried out under the European Battery Alliance.

“We support our customers and want to capture the growth opportunity in the fast-growing electric mobility market with our investments in battery materials in Europe,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE in the accompanying press release.

BASF is committed to provide a reliable and sustainable local supply of high-energy density cathode active materials to cell producers and automotive customers meeting their specific needs in Europe. The plant is scheduled to start production in 2022 and aims to supply around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year with BASF battery materials.

“BASF’s groundbreaking ceremony today marks a further step in the right direction for Germany’s industrial sector and the establishment of a European value chain for electric mobility. We aim to produce the world’s best-quality and best-performing batteries in Germany and Europe. We are therefore backing the expansion of battery manufacturing which uses the latest and most environmentally friendly materials. Specifically, the Federal Government and the Land are providing approximately €175 million towards BASF’s project. I am delighted that BASF aims to set new standards in Schwarzheide and create forward-looking jobs which will contribute to successful structural change in the region,” said the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Mr. Peter Altmaier.

Read the original press release on BASF website.