BASF builds battery material factory in Finland
BASF has now officially selected Harjavalta in Finland as their first location to manufacture battery materials for the European automobile market. The facility will be built nearby the refinery belonging to Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel).
BASF and Nornickel have been partners for some time now, and have announced their intention to further develop their cooperation. The partners have signed a long-term delivery contract for the supply for nickel and cobalt from the metal refinery belonging to Nornickel in Harjavalta, which are critical components for battery materials.
BASF’s investment in the Finnish facility is part of a multi-year investment plan covering about 400 million euros that was announced last year. The production start for the facility is planned for 2020 and will supply materials to fit about 300,000 EVs per year. BASF views the construction of the facility as a contribution to the initiative by the European Commission to set up a European battery industry. In order to further follow this target, BASF is also analysing further locations to set up new production facilities.
Head of the Catalyst component section at BASF, Kenneth Lane, said the following regarding their cooperation: “Combined with our Nornickel cooperation, we are creating a strong platform that connects the efforts between industry leaders in raw material supply and battery materials technology and production.” Nornickel head of sales and innovation Sergey Batekhin, added: “Combined with our Nornickel cooperation, we are creating a strong platform that connects the efforts between industry leaders in raw material supply and battery materials technology and production.” Both companies seem well-positioned and motivated to expand their EV business.
BASF has been repeatedly focusing their business towards e-mobility, and their products for the automobile industry are the most profitable from their lineup. The chemical company makes about eleven billion euros in sales for component and material deliveries to automobile manufacturers.
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