Albemarle plans ‘Mega-Flex’ facility

Albemarle has announced plans to locate its previously announced lithium hydroxide ‘Mega-Flex’ facility in Chester County, South Carolina. The initial investment will be at least $1.3 billion, due to surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and lithium-ion batteries worldwide.

Pending permitting approvals, the facility will be located within an area of about 320 hectares. It is projected to create more than 300 new, permanent jobs and sustain more than 1,500 construction jobs.

The term ‘Mega-Flex’ refers to the facility’s ability to process diverse lithium feedstock, including from recycled batteries. It is expected to produce around 50,000 tonnes/year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, enough for about 2.4 million EVs/year, with the potential to double this.