JX unit to make lithium battery materials

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corp. plans to begin commercial production of cathode materials for automotive lithium ion batteries next year on expectations of stronger demand. The JX Holdings Inc. unit intends to spend  ¥9.2 billion (US$111.56 million) to install equipment capable of producing 5,000 tons a year at an Ibaraki Prefecture plant that makes semiconductor materials. The plant, which has equipment capable of producing 300 tons of cathode materials a year, has been shipping samples to battery manufacturers and others since 2009. The firm has decided to boost output now that its materials are expected to find their way into a major automaker’s electric vehicles. (January 12, 2011)