LG Chem commenced the construction of a cathode plant in Clarksville, TN, intending to establish a production hub for the global EV battery material market. The facility will produce cathode materials optimized for North American EVs and collaborate with key partners from development to supply chain.
On Dec. 19, LG Chem held the groundbreaking ceremony for its cathode plant in Tennessee. The event was attended by guests including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong, Clarksville City Mayor Joe Pitts and Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden. Key attendees from LG Chem were CEO Shin Hak-cheol, President of Advanced Materials Company Nam Chul and Head of Battery Materials Business Unit Lee Hyang-mok.
"With the Tennessee cathode material plant as the center, LG Chem will undoubtedly leap to become the top cathode material supplier in North America," Hak-cheol said. "LG Chem will execute the vision to become the world's leading comprehensive battery material company, establishing a stable supply chain resilient to any environment."
"Tennessee's pro-business environment and skilled workforce provide global companies with the tools they need to succeed," said Lee. "I congratulate LG Chem on today's significant milestone and thank the company for its investment in Tennessee."
LG Chem will invest $1.6 billion in the first phase to build a cathode plant with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons on a 1.7 million-square meter site in Clarksville. The plant is expected to be the largest cathode material facility in the U.S., capable of producing cathode materials for approximately 600,000 high-performance pure EVs with a range of 500 km annually.
Starting from 2026, the Tennessee cathode plant will mass-produce NCMA (Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Aluminum) cathode materials. LG Chem plans to diversify its product portfolio through future-generation cathode material products and expand production capacity in response to increasing demand.
LG Chem previously signed a comprehensive agreement for the long-term supply of 950,000 tons of cathode materials with General Motors last year and a North American cathode material supply contract worth $2.5 billion with Toyota in October this year.
Tennessee offers excellent geographical accessibility for customer deliveries and raw material imports. LG Chem plans to use the Tennessee facility as a base for communication with customers, producing customized cathode materials optimized for North American EVs from the development stage.
Through the plant, LG Chem aims to actively respond to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of the Biden administration, helping customers meet EV tax credits criteria. The Tennessee plant will secure a reliable supply chain for minerals and precursors from nations with U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). For instance, it will use precursors from Ulsan by Korea Precursor Company (KPC), a joint venture of LG Chem and Korea Zinc.
LG Chem will enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of the Tennessee plant by advancing its engineering technology of the calcination process, securing the world's highest-level annual production capacity of 10,000 tons per line. LG Chem will also apply smart factory technology to the Tennessee plant, automating the entire production process and establishing a quality analysis and control system.
In addition, LG Chem is discussing collaboration with U.S. battery recycling companies regarding material supply cooperation. The company plans to operate the plant with 100% renewable energy, including solar and hydro power, in collaboration with local power supply companies.
