Ford retreats in the battery sector | “One thing that is certain is that the project will come to fruition”

With or without Ford, the billionaire battery materials project will see the light of day in Bécancour, assures the Legault government. This is not enough to reassure the opposition parties, who believe that things are being taken for granted too quickly in the battery sector.


Published at 11:42 a.m.

Highlighted by The Pressthe American automobile giant’s step back in one of the flagship projects of the Quebec ecosystem caused a reaction on Thursday in the National Assembly.

“Overall, what this tells us is that this is a much more risky sector than what the government wants to present to us,” said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. Before taking everything for granted, you have to tread carefully. »

PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS

PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon

The project in question concerns a cathode factory — the positive pole of a lithium-ion battery found in electric vehicles. Announced in August 2023, this 1.2 billion project was to be the result of a partnership between Ford and the Korean companies EcoPro BM and SK On.

Not only did the company with the blue oval never join the shareholding of this joint venture, but the press release highlighting the planned investment is no longer visible on the Ford website.

This change will not prevent the project from getting off the ground, assures the Legault government.

“One thing that is certain is that the project will go ahead,” said the office of the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Christine Fréchette. We are following the matter closely. »

The latter also met the president and CEO of EcoPro’s Canadian activities – who acts as project manager – Sang-Young Oh, as part of a visit to the Bécancour industrial park on October 21. last.

According to our information, the South Korean multinational specializing in battery materials is working to seal agreements with other clients. This is the message that would have been transmitted to Quebec.

This is not enough to reassure the opposition parties.

This is not good news. I am not saying that it is directly the government’s fault, but it is an environment that is excessively competitive. There is Ford, there is Northvolt, where are we going? It’s as if we were […] at the mercy of multinationals.

Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)

PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)

At Québec solidaire, MP Ruba Ghazal agreed in the same direction, emphasizing that projects from “foreign companies” seem increasingly uncertain.

The Legault and Trudeau governments offered 640 million to finance the construction of the cathode factory. This government assistance is divided equally. Part of Quebec’s aid must be provided through forgivable loans.

The last few months have been eventful for this flagship project in the battery sector. Last April, The Press revealed that construction was temporarily interrupted and that the project manager of the site at that time, the Quebec firm AtkinsRéalis, had been replaced.

After a restart a month later, a new shutdown occurred last August. Construction resumed in September. In both cases, the temporary shutdowns were blamed on technical challenges regarding “manufacturing strategy.”

The plant, which was to be operational in 2026, was expected to create some 345 jobs, in addition to producing 45,000 tonnes of active cathode materials annually.

This deadline will be pushed back by at least a year, according to what the CEO of EcoPro, Song Ho-jun, suggested on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the South Korean multinational, on 28 last March.

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    There are two cathode factory projects under construction in Bécancour. The other is that of the joint venture formed by General Motors and Posco.

    Bécancour Industrial and Port Park Company

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