BASF starts change negotiations over pCAM plant

BASF has begun a six-week period of change negotiations at its precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) plant in Harjavalta, Finland. This may include layoffs for an indefinite period, potentially impacting all employees. The company added that it remains committed to driving pCAMs, which it will continue to do via its facility in Schwarzheide, Germany.

The decision follows the suspension of the immediate enforcement of the site’s environmental permit by the Vaasa Administrative Court on 21 February. This was the latest of a series of decisions with the permitting process since 2020 that has made the timeframe for a final permit uncertain.

“We have been on a painful journey with several cycles of permits being granted, appealed, and – unfortunately – not upheld,” said Tomi Oja, managing director of BASF Battery Materials Finland. “In a dynamic market like the battery market, which requires major investments, both speed and certainty are essential for business planning. This includes a clear legal framework.”