Vianode starts site preparation in Canada for battery materials plant

Vianode, a Norwegian producer of advanced battery materials, has officially started site preparation at its new synthetic graphite facility Via TWO in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. The plant will have a capacity of up to 150,000 tonnes/year at full expansion and production start is expected in 2028.

The project is a major milestone in Vianode’s North American expansion plans and set to bring hundreds of new high-skilled jobs to the region, it adds.

The site preparation marks the formal start of the project to establish North America’s largest production facility for low-emission synthetic anode graphite, with operations set to begin in 2028. Anode graphite is a critical component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and other strategic industries, including energy storage.

Located in the Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park and the St. Thomas site was chosen for the Via TWO facility following an extensive North American site selection process. St. Thomas is close to key automotive customers and offers access to Ontario’s clean electricity grid, a skilled regional workforce, and strong support from local and provincial authorities.

Subject to reaching a definitive agreement, the Government of Ontario will provide a loan of up to CAD670 million in support of Vianode’s investment.

The St. Thomas project is structured as a phased multi-billion-dollar investment, with total planned capacity of up to 150,000 tonnes/year, supporting delivery of synthetic graphite for around 2 million EVs per year. The plant is expected to create approximately 300 highly skilled jobs in the first phase, and up to 1,000 at full capacity.

“St. Thomas is exactly where we need to be – next to major manufacturing hubs and in a region with the skills to scale. We’re committed to being a good neighbour, creating high-quality jobs and working with local partners as we build Canada’s first large-scale synthetic graphite facility”, says Emanuele Tricca, Managing Director, Vianode Canada.

Vianode started Norwegian synthetic graphite production at its Technology Center in Kristiansand in 2021 and commissioned its first full-scale plant Via ONE at Herøya in 2024. The St. Thomas facility is an important part of the company’s goal to supply advanced materials for up to three million EVs annually by 2030.

Via TWO, Canada’s first synthetic graphite plant, will produce high-performance synthetic graphite, using proprietary technology that reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional methods. With each electric vehicle (EV) battery requiring up to 100 kg of graphite, the facility will play a vital role in supporting the clean energy transition and strengthening the region’s critical minerals supply chain.

The company is currently executing a multi-billion dollar investment program across North America and Europe. Vianode operates Via ONE, the world’s most sustainable anode graphite plant, located in Norway, and is currently constructing Via TWO, its first North American facility, in St. Thomas, Canada.

Vianode’s long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials for 3 million EVs annually by 2030. The company is backed by Altor, a world-leading financial investor.