Expansions: BASF acquires site for battery materials/recycling expansion in Canada; BASF to expand capacity of nylon in India

German chemical firm BASF signed an agreement to secure land for its future cathode active materials and recycling site in Bécancour, Quebec, Canada, as part of its commitment to support North American producers in their transition to e-mobility. A regional supply chain is critical to ensure reliable and resilient battery materials supply.

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 kilotonnes/year CAM with potential for fully integrated precursor cathode active materials (PCAM) supply. The site will also be well 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 BASF’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 customer’s operations with sustainable and reliable local supply. We look forward to supporting the e-mobility transition in the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond.”

With an ideal location along the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the new site 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.

Meanwhile in other news, BASF India Limited will expand the production capacity of its Ultramid polyamide (PA) grades to meet increasing market demand. The increased capacity at BASF’s production site in Panoli, Gujarat, will be available in Q4 2022.

“The additional capacity reaffirms our dedication to being our customers’ supplier of choice for polyamides and will help us meet the rapidly growing demand for our Ultramid polyamide grades in India. It will accordingly shorten local delivery times and help us to better meet the just-in-time needs of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs),” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

Ultramid is used in automotive applications, electrical & electronics sector, industrial products and consumer goods.

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