Livent Corporation opened the first of several major expansions of the company’s operations around the world, significantly boosting its lithium hydroxide production capacity in Bessemer City, North Carolina, a birthplace of lithium-ion battery technology and an increasingly important supply hub for the growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Livent’s leading footprint in North America positions the company to take advantage of long-term growth opportunities and downstream incentives from the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which encourages use of lithium produced or processed in North America. The expansion in Bessemer City will boost the site’s lithium hydroxide manufacturing capacity by 50%, helping meet the growing demand for EV battery materials produced in the United States.
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“Livent is America’s original lithium company, tracing its roots back to the 1940s. Today, by cutting the ribbon on our Bessemer City expansion, we open the next phase of our work to help power the transition to electric vehicles, cleaner energy and a more sustainable future,” said Paul Graves, president and chief executive officer of Livent. “The expansion represents the first new lithium hydroxide production facility in North America in more than a decade. With our outstanding team here in North Carolina and the support of government at all levels, we are on target to significantly increase Livent’s production of the high-quality lithium chemicals that our customers need.”
Federal, state and local officials applauded the completion of Livent’s new lithium hydroxide facility in Bessemer City. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper congratulated Livent in a letter, as did Senator Thom Tillis.
Senator Tillis commented: “Manufacturing plays an essential role in our economy, and Livent is an excellent example of an organization that is supporting important jobs in our state. I applaud your role in producing American-made products, and I appreciate your continued investment in North Carolina.”
Governor Cooper noted: “We are excited about the future of manufacturing EV’s here and look forward to continuing the great working relationship we have with Livent Corporation. This is an exciting time for our state.”