After XTC New Energy Materials and Orano CAM signed a joint venture (JV) last year, the pair have since announced more details about the direction of the JV. The JV, XTC France New Energy Materials, plans to build a cathode manufacturing plant in France. It is scheduled to be fully operational Q3 2027. Similarly, on the 27th of September, China’s Ningbo Shanshan announced it has plans to build a lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing facility in Finland.

Another Facility for Dunkirk

Orano’s expertise lies in nuclear technology, however recently it moved into the European battery market, under its subsidiary Orano CAM. XTC New Energy Materials, is a Chinese company primarily focusing on researching, producing, and selling cathode active materials (CAM). This includes Lithium Cobalt Oxide and Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) ternary materials. The JV has agreed to invest in a NCM cathode manufacturing facility located in Dunkirk, France. The facility once fully operational is expected to have a 40,000-tonne annual capacity. However, the construction will occur in two phases. Phase one has a planned completion date of Q4 2025 and will have a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum (tpa). The second phase will begin soon after with it scheduled to finish by Q3 2027. This phase will increase capacity by a further 20,000 tpa, leaving the final total capacity to 40,000 tpa.

XTC France New Energy Materials is a 51:49 equity hold with Orano CAM being the biggest shareholder. The estimated budget

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