New planning reservation for anode materials factory in the GigaVaasa area

The pre-reservation was approved at the Korsholm Public Work Committee on 1st November. Plot 3019, which is reserved by the company, is approximately 52,5 hectares in size. Shanshan is planning to build a 100,000 ton production site which is based on artificial graphite for li-on batteries.

During the pre-reservation time the company will start environmental impact assessment (EIA) preparations, in order to be able to start the EIA program as soon as possible. The target is to start phase one of the production in 2026. Working in full scale the factory would create approximately 1,000 new job opportunities.

“The pre-reservation made by Shanshan is a start to a thorough process, where the aim is no less than to renew the industrial profile of Finland. It is self-evident that this is a historically significant moment for both the region and nationally. From this moment on, a lot of effort will be made to make a good EIA addressing all environmental requirements. This is a huge task as this is one of the first plants of its kind in Finland”, says Mayor of Korsholm Rurik Ahlberg.

“We are proud to welcome Shanshan to GigaVaasa area. Our systematic work for the most sustainable battery manufacturing area where synergies between different players are maximized is attractive for all battery industry players”, explains Mayor of Vaasa Tomas Häyry.

“Our goal is to achieve the complete transition to clean energy. This project base in GigaVaasa with the annual production of 100,000 tons can meet the European market demand for anode materials. These anode materials can be used to manufacture around 100 GWh lithium batteries meeting the demand from about 1,500,000 electric vehicles. GigaVaasa is forerunning on offering a sustainable battery manufacturing park, which was one of the main criteria when Shanshan selected production site in Europe”, explains Ding Xiaoyang, General Manager of Shanshan Technology.

“Today’s news signifies a substantial step toward establishing a sustainable and resilient anode material supply chain for the European battery industry. Leveraging Finland’s expertise in the battery sector and our eco-friendly, carbon-neutral electricity supply, this endeavour will further catalyse investments in battery technology and job opportunities in Finland”, says Markku Kivistö, Head of Cleantech, Invest in Finland.

GigaVaasa Area Timeline:

• December 2023: New planning reservation for anode materials factory in the GigaVaasa area
• November 2023: Epsilon Advanced Materials’ plans in the GigaVaasa area moving forward – first Finnish employee to start at the beginning of the year
• February 2023: Finnish Minerals Group and FREYR Battery collaborate to establish an LFP cathode material plant in Vaasa
• January 2023: FREYR Battery’s environmental impact assessment of the cathode factory plot progressing
• November 2022: FREYR Battery made a planning reservation on a plot to build a cathode factory.
• October 2022: Finnish Minerals Group and Epsilon Advanced Materials sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the companies will evaluate the possibility of setting up an anode materials production facility in Vaasa.
• September 2022: The memorandum of understanding with Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials was formally terminated as cooperation between the companies had ended and new negotiations on the plot in question could start.
• August 2022: Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials dissolve their mutual cooperation agreement. They continue discussions with the City of Vaasa
• May 2022: FREYR Battery and the City of Vaasa enter into a fixed-term lease agreement for a 130-hectare plot.
• January 2022: FREYR Battery’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) commences.
• January 2022: Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Vaasa to build a plant to produce anode materials for the battery industry in the GigaVaasa area.
• November 2021: Johnson Matthey announces the sale of its battery materials business. However, Vaasa continues negotiations with the company’s new owner.
• August 2021: FREYR Battery selects Vaasa as the location of a battery cell plant; a memorandum of understanding is signed for a 90-hectare plot.
• April 2021: First reservation for the GigaVaasa area; Johnson Matthey selects Vaasa as the location for a sustainable battery materials plant.