- Today we raise the flag for Vianode

Thursday, 10 November 2022

This week, Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland visited the site of Vianode's first industrial-scale plant for sustainable battery materials at Herøya Industripark AS in Norway.

From Vianode´s press release:

Aasland was welcomed by Vianode’s general manager Stian Madshus, together with representatives from owners Elkem ASA, Norsk Hydro and Altor Equity Partners as well as local government officials, and raised Vianode’s flag at the site.

- Today we raise the flag for Vianode and the significance this project can have for industrial development in the Telemark region and the development of new, profitable, green jobs in all of Norway. If we are to succeed – and we are – we have to cooperate well. That is why I am particularly pleased that Elkem, Hydro and Altor are working together on this investment, which is now entering a new phase. We will support the development we see at Herøya and the rest of the country. This government’s goal is clear: Norway shall be an attractive host country for sustainable and profitable activities through the entire battery value chain and attract the big gigafactories, says Terje Aasland, Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

Invests 2 billions

Vianode, which is owned by Elkem, Hydro and Altor, is a producer of advanced battery materials with a greener footprint. The company will invest approximately NOK two billion in the new factory on Herøya and will thereby create new industrial jobs and supply critical battery materials. The investment decision that has been taken is an important step in the work to establish a complete value chain for batteries in Norway and for the European market.

300 green jobs

Through the plans at Herøya, Vianode plans to recruit around 100 new employees. It will contribute to local value creation and provide a total of around 300 green jobs including spin-off effects.

- I dag heiser vi flagget for Vianode og den betydningen det har industriutviklingen i Telemark og for utviklingen av nye, lønnsomme, grønne arbeidsplasser over hele landet. Skal vi lykkes - og det skal vi - må vi samarbeide godt. Derfor er jeg spesielt glad for Elkem, Hydro og Altor har gått sammen i denne investeringen, som nå går inn i den neste utbyggingsfasen. Vi skal legge til rette for utviklingen vi ser på Herøya og i resten av landet. Regjeringens mål er klart: Norge skal være et attraktivt vertsland for bærekraftig og lønnsom aktivitet i hele batteriverdikjeden og tiltrekke oss de store gigafabrikkene, sier olje- og energiminister Terje Aasland.

For 20.000 electric cars

The factory on Herøya will produce anode graphite for around 20,000 electric cars per year by 2024. This investment is the first in a larger investment plan. The construction of the factory will take place at the same time as preparations are being made for a next phase with the size to be able to supply battery materials for two million electric cars per year by 2030, thereby taking a significant share of the global market in battery materials.

- A historic step

- The establishment of an industrial-scale factory for sustainable battery materials on Herøya represents a historic step for Vianode and the company's owners. Based on strong support from Elkem, Hydro and Altor, Vianode has a solid foundation to succeed in building industrial leadership within advanced battery materials with a greener footprint. In order to succeed in this in Norway, competitive framework conditions are needed, and in that context we are grateful for today's visit from Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland to learn more about our activities and plans, says Asbjørn Søvik, acting managing director of Vianode and chairman of the board .

The graphite materials from Vianode are produced with up to 90% lower CO2 emissions than today's standard materials. The materials enable unique performance and can improve the properties of batteries, including faster charging, increased range and longer life, as well as improved safety and ease of recycling.