At the Choose France 2024 summit, Axens and Hunan Changyuan Lico announce their Joint Venture project for the production of Cathode Active Materials in France
Following the partnership agreement signed with the Hunan Changyuan Lico (China) industrial in September 2023, Axens is materializing its industrial ambitions in the energy transition sector by producing battery materials. The partners chose Northern France to build the plant. This joint industrial investment is estimated at 600 million euros, spread over several phases between 2027 and 2030, and will create 600 direct jobs.
Through this project, which is in line with its historic catalysis and inorganic chemicals activity, Axens, a key industrial process decarbonization player, will affirm its strategic positioning in a fast-growing battery market driven by increasing demand for electric vehicles at a time when there is a notable deficit in the supply of these materials in the European Union. In addition to its participation in the investment, Hunan Changyuan Lico is contributing its technical expertise and know-how in the field of cathode active materials.
7 years ago, France had no battery or cathode active material production capacity. We have implemented concrete measures that will allow us to attract industrial projects such as the project announced by Axens and Lico which will ultimately make it possible for us to meet our needs and export competitive, high-performance batteries or cathode active materials.
We are proud to unveil this Joint Venture at the Choose France Summit alongside our partner Hunan Changyuan Lico. On behalf of our entire team, I'd like to thank the Direction Générale des Entreprises and Business France for their invaluable support at every stage of this project. It shows that through a partnership approach, French intermediate businesses can persuade major international companies to choose France, and we're very happy about that.
About Axens
The Axens Group (www.axens.net) offers a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass into cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates, the chemical recycling of plastics, natural gas treatment and conversion options, water treatment and carbon capture. Their offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility studies to start-up and monitoring of units throughout their lifecycle. This unique position guarantees optimum performance and a reduced environmental footprint. Axens' international offering is based on highly qualified human resources, modern production facilities and an extensive global network for industrial, technical support and sales services. Axens is an IFP Energies Nouvelles Group company. To find out more, visit our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.