A cathode material plant project in Becancour, Quebec, was suspended for the second time in 2024. The $880 million joint venture involves South Korea’s EcoPro BM, SK On and U.S. automaker Ford.
Construction began in August 2023, but experienced its first pause in April 2024 due to contractor selection and facility design issues. Work resumed in late May; however, Canada’s La Presse reported that operations have been suspended since August 5, 2024, for a major redesign of the facility.
A spokesperson for EcoPro CAM Canada, the local subsidiary overseeing the project, attributed the reassessment to fluctuations in electric vehicle (EV) demand. The company said construction will resume once the redesign is complete.
The delay coincides with Ford’s strategic shift in the EV sector, including revised production plans for large electric vehicles. This change has led to speculation about possible disagreements between Ford and its Korean partners.
The Quebec government remains positive about the project’s future. Mathieu St-Amand, director of communications for the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, expressed confidence that the project will regain momentum in the near future.
The plant’s completion, originally scheduled for the first half of 2026, has been pushed back to 2027 as a result of these setbacks.
Source: The Korea Herald, La Presse
