Nippon Shokubai Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) concluded a location agreement with Kitakyushu City to establish a new battery electrolyte production plant for LiFSI (Lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide, trade name: Ionel).
Ionel, an electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries, contributes to performance improvements such as longer battery life, shorter charging times and higher output in low-temperature environments, according to Nippon Shokubai. Demand for this material is expected to grow since electrification of automobiles is rapidly advancing. In 2022, Nippon Shokubai launched a partnership with Arkema S.A. (Colombes, France) to develop an integrated production process for LiFSI.
Nippon Shokubai Signs Location Agreement for Establishment of New Ionel Plant (Source: Nippon Shokubai)
Kitakyushu City is convenient for logistics and utility facilities, and is home to many automotive and environment-related industries. The new plant will be located on approximately 65,000m2 in the Hibikinada area, Wakamatsu Ward within Kitakyushu City. The company is investing around 37.5 billion yen in the site, which will have a production capacity of 3,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) once commercial startup commences in July 2028. Construction is slated to begin in January 2026.