Enchem to Establish Electrolyte Production Base in Dunkirk, France and Western Europe

On May 12, Enchem announced that it had held a collaborative meeting with high-ranking officials from the French government to discuss the establishment of a local subsidiary in France and support for investment in production facilities.

The meeting took place at Enchem's Cheonan plant and was attended by Patrice Vergriete, Mayor of Dunkirk; Maurice Georges, Director of the Dunkirk Port Authority; and representatives from the French Embassy's Investment Office in Korea.

Dunkirk is emerging as a key hub for the European battery industry, serving as a core base for the European Battery Alliance (EBA), which is jointly promoted by the European Union and the French government. Verkor, a leading French battery company, is also set to build its first gigafactory in this region.

Enchem plans to establish a plant in Dunkirk capable of producing 175,000 tons of electrolyte and 20,000 tons of recycled NMP (R-NMP) annually. The R-NMP plant is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, while the electrolyte plant aims to be completed next year.

During the meeting, various cooperation measures were discussed, including: the current status and outlook of the battery industry in Dunkirk; fast-track support through the C3IV investment cash grant program; local tax refunds and tax discounts; customs clearance for raw material imports; and support programs for foreign investors.

Mayor Patrice Vergriete emphasized, "Dunkirk is a hub for the European battery industry, with global gigafactories clustered here. Enchem's investment is of great significance to the local industrial ecosystem. We will actively support Enchem's strategic investment by expanding tax breaks and subsidies."

Enchem currently operates electrolyte production facilities in Poland and Hungary. Through this investment in Dunkirk, the company plans to expand its market share across Europe and strengthen its global leadership.

Enchem CEO Oh Jungkang stated, "The EU is the world's second-largest electric vehicle market after China. With the policy to ban sales of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, the transition to electric vehicles is accelerating. Dunkirk is a key strategic point for our global localization strategy."

He added, "By using Dunkirk as a base, we will secure a foothold in the Western European markets, including France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and expand cooperation with European clients such as Verkor to strengthen our supply base. Furthermore, we will expand supply to Chinese battery companies operating in Europe to continuously increase our global market share."