Eco&Dream, a domestic specialist company in precursor materials for secondary batteries, announced on the 9th that the construction of the Saemangeum Precursor Campus (CAMP2) will be completed within this year.
Eco&Dream's Saemangeum Campus, which began construction in February, is currently undergoing panel work and equipment installation at the factory. In just over seven months, the expansion construction is rapidly being completed, filling approximately 20,000 pyeong of space.
The precursor market is actively pursuing expansion to respond to diversified supply chains and the demand for precursors suitable for Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
An Eco&Dream official stated, "Due to the U.S. FEOC regulations, the use of Chinese-made precursors will be restricted from 2025, so Korean companies must reduce dependence on China and establish stable procurement measures," adding, "The importance of precursors produced by Eco&Dream is increasing."
Eco&Dream's precursors are made with purely domestic technology and do not fall under FEOC according to the North American IRA legislation. They are considered a key element for receiving subsidies in North America. The volume produced at the Saemangeum Campus will also be supplied to customers simultaneously with mass production.
The Saemangeum Campus is being built with goals of eco-friendliness and advanced technology, demonstrating ESG management practices. The EWRS (Eco&Dream Water Recycling System) process, which purifies wastewater generated during precursor production and reuses it in the process, was jointly developed with environmental equipment specialist company Giryeon ENC. It is expected to actively respond to the eco-friendly policies and carbon reduction demands of the European and North American markets.
Eco&Dream is the only KOSDAQ-listed company in Korea that mass-produces and supplies precursors. In a situation where precursor supply is noticeably less compared to cathode materials, Eco&Dream is expected to expand production capacity as a leader in stabilizing the supply chain. Including the expanding Saemangeum Campus with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, Eco&Dream plans to secure an annual production capacity of about 100,000 tons by 2030 through phased expansions.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy revised the ‘Notification on Designation of National Core Technologies’ to designate the design, manufacturing, and process technology of lithium secondary battery precursors with nickel (Ni) content exceeding 80% as ‘National Core Technology.’ Precursor technology is expected to act as a key driving force for national economic security and economic growth.
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