KINGSTON, Ontario – Prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined Wednesday by the minister of innovation, science and industry, François-Philippe Champagne, and Ontario’s minister of economic development, job creation and trade, Vic Fedeli, to bring a new world-leading facility to Ontario to produce essential components of electric vehicle batteries.
Prime minister Trudeau, said:
“Today’s announcement is about creating jobs, cutting pollution, and building a stronger, cleaner economy for Canadians. Umicore’s intention to establish its new facility in Loyalist Township is another major step forward as we make Canada a global leader in producing electric vehicles – from minerals to manufacturing. With over 1,000 good jobs to build the plant, and hundreds of permanent positions once it is up and running, this new facility will play an important role in Canada’s clean automotive sector well into the future.”
“Through the new partnership, Umicore plans to invest $1.5 billion to establish a net-zero facility in Loyalist Township, Ontario, which will create 1,000 jobs during construction and hundreds of permanent positions,” said the prime minister’s office – communications. “Since January, Canada has secured historic manufacturing deals for electric vehicles, batteries, and hybrids – deals that create and secure thousands of good, middle-class jobs. Today represents another major step forward.”
By the end of the decade, Umicore’s new facility will produce enough precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM) – essential components in batteries – to supply one million electric vehicles annually. The company will supply car manufacturers and battery producers in Canada and the United States, and will play an important role in our domestic electric vehicle supply chain and a strengthened North American batteries ecosystem. Umicore’s new facility will help ensure Canada’s automotive sector remains strong and thrives well into the future.
“As we build a clean economy, the government of Canada will continue to ensure the Canadian automotive industry and its workers remain competitive. Through the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan that was launched this spring and Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy that is in development now, we will deliver clean air, good middle-class jobs, and a strong economy for Canadians now and into the future.”
François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, said:
“Canada is leading the world when it comes to the jobs of the future in the low carbon economy. Today’s announcement with Umicore builds on recent investments that our government has made to build a thriving EV battery supply chain in Canada. We’re ensuring a strong and resilient economy, while also creating tens of thousands of well-paying jobs right across the country.”
Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore, said:
“Canada and the province of Ontario have all it takes for Umicore to establish a full-fledged, sustainable supply chain for battery materials, all the way from the mine right to the end-market of electric vehicles. Once the key customer contracts are in place, this expansion in North America would complete our global rollout of regional supply chains for our automotive and battery cell customers to now three continents. Moreover, we are most grateful to the Canadian and Ontario governments for their support and for their readiness to co-fund this planned project. The facility will help Canada and Umicore in their shared objective of achieving a carbon-neutral battery supply chain.”
