Specialty chemicals company Albemarle has announced plans to build a lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County, South Carolina.

Plans for the facility include an initial investment of at least $1.3 billion.

The so-called Mega-Flex plant will be able to process diverse lithium feedstocks, including lithium from recycled batteries. Albemarle expects the facility to produce approximately 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annually from multiple sources, and to have the potential to expand to up to 100,000 metric tons.

Production at the facility would support the manufacturing of around 2.4 million EVs annually, according to the company’s estimates.

Pending permitting approvals, the facility will be located within a nearly 800-acre parcel. Albemarle estimates the facility will create around 300 permanent jobs, and more than 1,500 construction jobs.

“This facility will help increase the production of US-based lithium resources to fuel the clean energy revolution while bringing us closer to our customers as the supply chain is built out in North America,” said Albemarle CEO Kent Masters.

Source: Albemarle