Revealing the Competitiveness and Value Chain Roadmap
of the Integrated Cathode Material Corporation in Indonesia
Ecopro will unveil future growth engines such as the integrated cathode material corporation in Indonesia and the development of new materials for all-solid-state batteries at Korea's largest battery exhibition.
Ecopro will participate in 'InterBattery 2025,' the largest battery exhibition in Korea, held at COEX, Seoul, from the 5th to the 7th of next month. Photo by Ecopro
On the 27th, Ecopro announced that it will showcase a total of four zones under the theme "Innovating Ecopro, Energizing Tomorrow" at 'InterBattery 2025,' held from July 5 to 7 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
A key highlight of this exhibition is the competitiveness and roadmap of the "Integrated Cathode Material Corporation in Indonesia." Ecopro plans to establish an integrated cathode material corporation in Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, within this year, forming a value chain that connects refining, precursor, and cathode materials.
Ecopro's integrated cathode material corporation in Indonesia will be established as a joint venture with China's GEM, which has secured mineral resources. It plans to produce cathode materials with significantly reduced prices by securing nickel?the largest cost component in high-nickel cathode materials?at a low cost. It is expected to be a game changer that will reshape the market landscape.
Ecopro has begun preparations with plans to start factory construction as early as the second half of this year and produce prototypes by the end of 2026. The first phase will have a capacity of about 50,000 tons, with a mid-to-long-term goal of expanding to 200,000 tons.
Additionally, Ecopro will showcase its future material development plans in preparation for the all-solid-state battery era at the exhibition.
Ecopro BM established a solid electrolyte pilot line last year in preparation for the all-solid-state era and has begun test operations, with plans to establish a mass production line.
Ecopro Innovation is also developing lithium metal technology for use in all-solid-state battery anodes in collaboration with Hydro-Qu?bec in Canada and plans to build a pilot line for lithium sulfide production next year.
At this exhibition, Ecopro will also introduce measures to strengthen the competitiveness of its affiliated companies. It will present plans to enhance management efficiency and business competitiveness through the merger of Ecopro Innovation, a leader in lithium conversion processes, and Ecopro CNG, responsible for used battery recycling.
Ecopro plans to promote the merger of Ecopro Innovation and Ecopro CNG within the first half of this year. By combining Innovation's lithium refining technology with CNG's lithium extraction technology, it aims to optimize the production process. The merger is expected to enable stable supply of raw materials and enhance technological and price competitiveness.
Furthermore, Ecopro will introduce various future battery technologies such as mid-nickel, sodium cathode materials, LFP, and cobalt-free (NMX) alongside its world-class high-nickel cathode materials to respond to changing market demands.
At this exhibition, Ecopro will also present its global strategy along with the completion of its Hungary plant this year. Ecopro is expanding its production bases worldwide, including in Ochang-eup, Cheongju, Chungbuk, and Pohang, Gyeongbuk, as well as Hungary, Indonesia, and Canada, while expanding supply chains in North American and European markets, including the United States and Germany.
The plant under construction in Debrecen, Hungary, with an annual capacity of 108,000 tons, aims to start mass production by the end of the year, marking the full-scale operation of Ecopro's global production bases from this year.
Yang Jeheon, Head of Ecopro's Technology Strategy Office, said, "Based on the world's best cathode material technology, Ecopro is diversifying its business areas across the entire value chain of secondary battery materials through continuous innovation. We have set this exhibition theme to showcase how we lead the market by further strengthening cost competitiveness through projects such as the integrated cathode material business in Indonesia."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.

