Chinese cathode material company Ronbay on Sunday announced its plans to build two battery materials plants in Chungju, South Korea. 

One of the facilities will produce high-nickel ternary cathodes with 40,000 tonnes/year of output. The other, meanwhile, will produce 20,000 t/y of lithium ferromanganese phosphate (LMFP) cathodes. Ronbay held commencement ceremonies for both projects on Friday, Kallanish learns.

During its global development strategy conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday Ronbay further announced plans to build a capacity of 380,000 t/y of ternary cathode materials worldwide by the end of 2025. Of this, 230,000 t/y to be in China and 100,000 t/y in South Korea, expanding the respective capacities to 500,000 t/y and 200,000 t/y by 2030.

Additionally, the battery materials company anticipates producing 150,000 t/y of ternary cathode materials in Europe and North America by the end of the decade.

In its domestic market of China, the Shanghai-listed firm is targeting the production of 60,000 t/y of sodium electric materials by the end of 2025, bringing its capacity to 500,000 t/y in China, Europe and North America by the end of the decade. There are also plans to increase its phosphate materials capacity to 300,000 t in China; 60,000 t in South Korea; and 100,000 t in Europe and North America by 2030.

Ronbay is already operating a 20,000 t/y high-nickel ternary cathode production facility in South Korea. While the statement from the company did not reveal investment details of the new South Korean factories, media reports indicate the firm will be spending CNY 2.6 billion ($362 million) for the facilities.