- New battery materials laboratory opened in
Bentley
- Important step towards WA becoming a global
producer of battery materials for electric vehicles
- $3 million Cook Government grant through the
Investment Attraction Fund to diversify WA's economy and create local jobs
Western
Australia has hit another milestone on its path to becoming a global battery materials
manufacturing hub, with a new research and development laboratory facility
opened in Bentley today.
The
Cook Government has allocated $3 million through its signature Investment
Attraction Fund to local company AustVolt, which is working towards developing
and producing battery precursor cathode active material (pCAM).
pCAM
is a vital component for manufacturing lithium battery cells, which have a
range of uses including in electric vehicles.
The
Bentley laboratory facility will allow AustVolt to produce samples of its pCAM
product, which can be used in battery manufacturing trials with the electric
vehicle industry.
It
is an important step towards AustVolt's full-scale manufacturing plant which,
when built, will be able to produce 40,000 tonnes of pCAM per year – enough to
develop hundreds of thousands of lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries.
The
Cook Government has granted AustVolt an 8.8 hectare land allocation in the
Rockingham-Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area for its full-scale plant, with
works expected to begin next year.
At full capacity, the project is expected to create hundreds
of local jobs.
The
Investment Attraction Fund was established to encourage new investment in the
State, create local jobs and diversify the WA economy, with more than $148
million allocated to 40 job-creating projects across the State to date.
For
more information on the Investment Attraction Fund, visit https://www.investandtrade.wa.gov.au/opportunities/investment-attraction-fund.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My
Government is backing projects that create local jobs, strengthen our economy
and set up our State for the long term.
"WA
is positioning as a leader in the global supply chain for battery manufacturing
and with this latest investment in AustVolt, we aremaking sure WA is in the box
seat as the world shifts to a low-carbon future.
"Today's
opening of the AustVolt pCAM laboratory is another step towards WA becoming a
major player in lithium battery manufacturing.
"The
Investment Attraction Fund continues to drive a strong diversified economy that
will secure a strong future for all Western Australians."
