A $1 billion lithium-ion battery factory expansion in Maple Ridge has been placed on hold.
The parent company, Taiwan Cement Corp., announced construction of the Canadian plant with much fanfare last year, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier David Eby attending and promising a combined $284.5 million in government funding.
Taiwan Cement Corp. company chairman Nelson Chang is quoted in a release saying that the plant construction has stopped in order to focus on Taiwanese production, in step with other battery makers suspending similar projects across North America.
The project consisted of replacing battery-manufacturer E-One Moli Energy Corp.’s old plant with a new one – increasing their manufacturing capacity from 24 million cells to 130 million cells a year.
The new plant was also projected to create 350 new full-time job positions, in addition to the 110 currently employed in Maple Ridge.
“It’s a very significant jump in terms of headcount,” E-One Moli executive vice-president Frank So told BIV in July. “And we will also be putting in a significant amount of automation to make this work.”
“The world is looking to Canada,” Trudeau said in a Nov. 14 speech. “When we support projects like E-One Moli’s new facility in Maple Ridge, we bolster Canada’s role as a global greentech leader, create good jobs and help keep our air clean.”
E-One Moli, which has been owned by Taiwan Cement Corp. since 2000, focuses on the production of high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery cells for niche markets, such as those used in electric race cars, aircraft and even power tools.
Construction on the new plant was expected to begin this winter, starting production some time in 2027.
--With files from the Canadian Press and Nelson Bennett
