JX Nippon Mining & Metals Expands Li Battery Material Capacity by 15 Times

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation officially announced on Wednesday the firm expands its output capacity of positive electrode material for automotive lithium ion battery to more than 15 times, from present 300 tonnes per year to 5,000 tonnes per year, at Isohara plant, Ibaraki, Japan. The firm invests 9.2 billion yen for the capacity expansion. The newly introduced facilities will start operation in early 2012.

This capacity expansion is financially helped by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry along the Ministry’s program to support low carbon and job generative activities by domestic companies.

Adoption of lithium ion battery is rapidly increasing for electric vehicles and hybrid cars. JX Nippon Mining & Metals decided the supply expansion since the firm’s electrode material will be formally adopted to automotive batteries.