Koura proposes $800 million EV battery supply chain projects in Iberville Parish
In Louisiana, New Orleans Biz reported that Koura is exploring two expansion projects at its Iberville Parish facility designed to support America’s lithium-ion battery production supply chain.
According to the report, the first proposed project is the construction of a $400 million world-scale manufacturing facility that would produce LiPF6, a component that allows for the flow of electricity through lithium-ion batteries. This facility would be the first of its kind in the U.S. and Koura estimates it would produce 10,000 metric tons of LiPF6 per year.
The company has also proposed an additional $400 million investment to build a second new production plant that would have the potential to manufacture 40,000 metric tons of R-142b annually. R-142b is a primary building block in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a critical binding agent for lithium-ion battery production, according to the report.
“Koura’s proposed expansion is a prime example of how supporting clean energy and emission reduction projects can benefit our state’s established petrochemical sector and drive economic growth,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “If these projects come to fruition, Louisiana will play a key role in bolstering the U.S. EV battery supply chain while also providing high-paying job opportunities for our skilled workforce for years to come.”
