BASF expands its leading cathode active material production capacity in China to achieve ton-scale production of manganese-rich nickel-cobalt-manganese products

Latest News:

● The new production line uses cutting-edge energy recovery technology to achieve an industry-leading low carbon footprint

● The new capacity is scheduled to be commissioned in Q4 2022 to support growing market demand

A joint venture controlled by BASF (BASF: 51%; Shanshan: 49%) – BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as BASF Shanshan) is expanding its battery bases in Changsha, Hunan and Shizuishan, Ningxia Material capacity to meet the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market demand locally and globally. The expansion project will increase BASF Shanshan’s annual production capacity of cathode active materials (CAM) to 100,000 tons.

BASF’s new Shanshan production line is designed to be highly flexible and can be used to manufacture an advanced portfolio of cathode active materials to meet the diverse needs of customers, including polycrystalline and monocrystalline high-nickel and ultra-high nickel-nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) oxides, and manganese-rich (Mn-rich) nickel-cobalt-manganese products.

At present, BASF Shanshan’s manganese-rich products have achieved ton-scale production. The development process of this material will be further accelerated, and its application in the client will be broadened.

Dr. Peter Schumacher, President of BASF’s Catalysts Business Unit
Schuhmacher) said: “Compared with other ternary cathode materials, our manganese-rich products can achieve a better balance in terms of cost-effectiveness and provide customers with better protection of low metal costs, mainly because Manganese is the most abundant metal when compared to volatile cobalt or nickel.”

Combining BASF’s extensive production and operation experience with BASF’s chemical process design expertise, the new production line uses innovative energy recovery technologies, including waste gas, waste heat and oxygen recovery. These technologies will be used in the battery industry for the first time.

Dr. Michael Bei, Senior Vice President of BASF Battery Materials and Chairman of BASF Shanshan
Baier added: “With the synergy of R&D and production technologies, we are excited to see that BASF’s chemical knowledge will serve as a catalyst for a more sustainable cathode active material product supply, while achieving an industry-leading low carbon footprint.”

Implanting the concept of smart factory with automation, intelligence and sustainable development, the expansion project adopts industry-leading standards in process layout, process environment control and dust management to meet the strict certification requirements of the battery material industry, while achieving High output and high quality.

Yang Jie, CEO of BASF Shanshan, said: “We continue to upgrade BASF Shanshan’s production and environmental protection facilities to reach the advanced level at home and abroad. In addition, we continue to advance the company’s commitment to customers and employees, making BASF Shanshan the industry leader. A leading producer of environmentally friendly, responsible cathode active materials.”

The first batch of new production lines after the expansion will start running in the fourth quarter of 2022.