Umicore Japan KK to invest JPY 4 billion to produce lithium ion battery materials in Kobe

After a meeting between Steven Vanackere, Belgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Masayuki Naoshima, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, held in Tokyo Umicore Chairman Thomas Leysen announced a detailed plan about Umicore’s lithium ion battery materials investment in Japan.

Umicore’s JPY 4 billion investment in Kobe-city will provide a vital production presence in Japan and will employ 40 people once it reaches its designed capacity. The investment will also incorporate a new technical centre for the testing and validation of materials for customers. This centre will mostly employ university graduates and will expand according to customer requirements. This investment has qualified for a subsidy from the Japanese authorities in the framework of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) initiative to promote the development of low-carbon industries. Umicore is the only foreign company among the ones selected for this subsidy, which in Umicore’s case is expected to amount to some JPY 600 million (€5 million).

It will be used to offset a portion of the investment expenditure. The new facility is expected to begin qualifying with customers and ramping up production in 2011. Umicore selected the city of Kobe for its excellent transportation infrastructure, providing easy access to customers, research centres and universities. Kobe is a very international city which will provide fertile ground for interaction between local and overseas researchers. Belgium plays a central role in Umicore’s lithium ion battery materials business and will support the new operations through its Group Research and Development Centre in Olen where high performance materials are developed.