Albemarle Corporation Plans Chester County, South Carolina, Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant
03/23/2023
Located on roughly 800 acres near Richburg, the new facility will support the fast-growing global electric vehicle and energy storage markets, producing approximately 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from multiple sources, with the potential to reach up to 100,000 metric tons. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.
“Albemarle is focused on meeting growing customer demand and this investment is part of our global commitment to transforming essential resources into critical ingredients that enable a more resilient world. We wanted a location with access to nearby rail and port transportation and the availability of skilled workers. We’re excited to have chosen South Carolina and to be closer to our customers as the supply chain is built out in North America,” Albemarle Corporation CEO Kent Masters said.
As an incentive the Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $9 million Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant to Chester County to assist with the costs of mitigation, site preparation and infrastructure improvements.
“Albemarle is a global leader in providing products and solutions that help advance innovation. The company’s significant investment in Chester County demonstrates to the world that South Carolina is poised to support resilient energy operations, especially the growing electric vehicle supply chain,” Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III noted.
The term “Mega-Flex” refers to the facility’s ability to process diverse lithium feedstock, including lithium from recycled batteries.
“SC Ports is proud to support the fast-growing electric vehicle sector by providing efficient operations, reliable service and speed-to-market. Albemarle Corporation’s significant investment further expands the state’s electric vehicle capabilities and builds on the global connectivity within the Interstate-77 market,” SC Ports President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Melvin added.
Albemarle Corporation is a specialty chemicals manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It operates 3 divisions: lithium, bromine specialties and catalysts. The company is a large developer of flame retardant chemicals technologies, with production plants in the U.S., China, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
“We are excited to welcome Albemarle to the I-77 region! Albemarle is a great fit for Chester County, which offers dual-rail capabilities through the L&C Railroad, a labor shed of 1.3 million people, and the ability to serve virtually any industrial natural gas load. With this announcement, the I-77 Alliance region is quickly becoming a corridor of R&D and innovation within the EV industry. We look forward to working with Albemarle as they establish operations in Chester County,” said I-77 Alliance Interim President and CEO Christopher Finn.
Project Announcements
Little Leaf Farms Plans Coffee County, Tennessee, Production Operations
07/02/2025
White Rock Truss & Components Expands Lee County, Virginia, Operations
07/02/2025
Fox Tank Company Plans Coshocton, Ohio, Operations
07/02/2025
Ascentek Expands Shreveport, Louisiana, Operations
07/02/2025
ProBio Establishes Hopewell, New Jersey, Gene Therapy Operations
07/02/2025
22nd Century Technologies Expands Fairfax County, Virginia, Headquarters Operations
07/02/2025
Most Read
-
20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2025
-
First Person: Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack
Q2 2025
-
The Legal Limits of DEI in Incentives Agreements, Hiring, and Contracting
Q2 2025
-
From Silicon to Server: Mapping the Data Center Supply Chain
Q2 2025
-
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
Q1 2025
-
Rethinking Life Sciences Site Selection in a Resilient and Dynamic Market
Q2 2025
-
Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence
Q3 2024