BASF and TODA to further expand their Japanese joint venture’s capacity for high nickel cathode active materials.
BASF and TODA KOGYO CORP. (TODA) announced that they will further expand the production capacity of BASF TODA Battery Materials LLC (BTBM) at the Onoda site in Japan.
BTBM is a BASF majority-owned joint venture with TODA formed in 2015 (BASF 66%; TODA 34%). Construction for the new capacity at the Onoda site will start in Q4 2022 and commercial production is planned for the second half of 2024. BTBM’s annual capacity for high nickel cathode active materials (CAM) will achieve up to 60,000 tons by 2025.
Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President, Catalysts division at BASF, said:
BTBM today is a leader for high nickel CAM materials of superior quality and plays an important role in BASF’s global production network for battery materials.
“This investment at the Onoda site, already one of the world’s largest calcination facilities for CAM, will support our customers’ ambitious growth plans in Japan and worldwide. We will introduce an innovative and proprietary new production process allowing highest throughput rate combined with consistent highest quality.”
Shigeru Takaragi, President of TODA KOGYO CORP., added:
With the further expansion of the Onoda site, we are supporting the Japanese government’s goal of strengthening the local supply chain.
“Together with BASF, we are combining and mobilizing resources to take full advantage of our synergies to respond to the fast-growing demand for lithium-ion batteries.”
Dr. Michael Baier, Senior Vice President of BASF Battery Materials, said:
BTBM combines manufacturing and technology expertise of BASF and Toda.
“Both partners are working closely together combining know-how and resources to support BTBM’s growth. BTBM also benefits from its close cooperation with innovative Japanese engineering companies and equipment suppliers.”
The new expansion project has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a “Program for Promoting Investment in Japan to Strengthen Supply Chains” and has been granted subsidies.
Highlights:
- Expansion to increase the supply of high nickel cathode active materials for up to 45 GWh cell capacity per year
- Investment targets to meet growing market demand and strengthen the local supply chain in Japan
- New capacity will start operation in second half of 2024
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BASF and TODA to further expand their Japanese joint venture’s capacity for high nickel cathode active materials, Ludwigshafen/Germany and Tokyo/Japan, July 20, 2022
