Australia-listed Lithium Universe on Monday announced the execution of an option agreement to purchase a commercial property in the Becancour Waterfront Industrial Park (BWIP) for its planned 16 000 t/y lithium carbonate plant.
The execution of the option agreement follows the recent announcement that Hatch has been appointed to undertake an engineering study for the design of a multi-purpose battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery, which will form part of the company’s Quebec lithium processing hub (QLPH) strategy.
Lithium Universe has selected a lithium carbonate refinery, rather than lithium hydroxide refinery, owing to the widespread use of the concentrate in the fast-growing lithium/iron/phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP batteries are increasingly used in electric vehicle applications, owing to their lower costs, longer shelf life and superior stability compared with lithium hydroxide.
The Bécancour facility hosts the General Motors and Korea-based Posco Chemicals’ new C$500-million cathode active material (CAM) factory forecast for first production in 2025.
In addition, the C$1.2-billion Ford/EcoProBM Cathode factory with a proposed production of 45 000 t/y of CAM, slated to start production in 2026, is also located within the BWIP.
Both CAM factories started construction in mid-2023 and are within one kilometre of the company’s proposed lithium refinery.
Investissement Québec has played an integral role in supporting Lithium Universe in its objective to secure this strategic location for the company’s QLPH strategy, the company states.