Canada

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/42228469

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Norwegian producer of advanced battery materials Vianode has begun site preparation at its new synthetic-graphite facility Via TWO in St. Thomas, ON, Canada. The project is a major milestone in Vianode’s North American expansion plans and set to bring hundreds of new high-skilled jobs to the region.

The site preparation marks the formal start of the project to establish North America’s largest production facility for low-emission synthetic-anode graphite, with operations set to begin in 2028. Anode graphite is a critical component in electric-vehicle (EV) batteries and other strategic industries, including energy storage.

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The St. Thomas project is structured as a phased multi-billion-dollar investment, with total planned capacity of up to 150,000 tons annually, supporting delivery of synthetic graphite for around two million EVs per year. The plant is expected to create approximately 300 jobs in the first phase, and up to 1,000 at full capacity.

The company plans to invest 3.2 billion, the Ontario government will provide a CAD 670-million (EUR 412 million) loan to Vianode to support the site's construction with a total investment of CAD 3.2 billion (EUR 2 billion).

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Citing Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode, Canada's CSC reports that synthetic graphite from China is being supplied at "unsustainably low prices" to keep North American companies out of the market.

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“St. Thomas is exactly where we need to be, next to major manufacturing hubs and in a region with the skills to scale. We’re committed to being a good neighbor, creating high-quality jobs and working with local partners as we build Canada’s first large-scale synthetic graphite facility,” adds Emanuele Tricca, MD-Vianode Canada.

Vianode started Norwegian synthetic graphite production at its Technology Center in Kristiansand in 2021 and commissioned its first full-scale plant Via ONE at Herøya in 2024. The St. Thomas facility is an important part of the company’s goal to supply advanced materials for up to three million EVs annually by 2030.

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