Mitra Chem has announced that it will receive up to $125 million in awards from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains and the state of Michigan's Competitiveness Fund. The company, which specializes in battery materials, will use the funding to establish a battery material manufacturing facility in Muskegon, Michigan. According to the company, the new production plant will be the first mass production facility for lithium iron phosphate cathodes in North America. To help accomplish this, Mitra Chem is launching the American Production of Lithium Iron Phosphate and Future Innovation (AmPLIFI) project, which is designed to help build a robust domestic electric vehicle battery supply chain. Mitra Chem will partner with Sun Chemical on the project, which is expected to generate hundreds of skilled jobs for the surrounding area.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Mitra Chem CEO Vivas Kumar said, "This award selection represents a pivotal moment for the entire U.S. battery industry. By bringing advanced battery production to American soil we're securing our energy future and positioning the U.S. at the forefront of the global electric vehicle revolution. The support from the DOE and Michigan, and our collaboration with Sun Chemical, will accelerate Mitra's mission to revolutionize next generation battery production."
Russell Schwartz, CTO of Sun Chemical, added, "The partnership between Mitra Chem and Sun Chemical brings together expertise in advanced materials and large-scale chemical manufacturing. By combining Mitra Chem's cutting-edge battery technology with a century of manufacturing experience, we're setting a new standard for innovation in cathode active materials for electrical storage. This project will demonstrate the power of American ingenuity and industrial might."
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DOE in the news
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The program will be administered by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC).
Investing in American manufacturing in 2024
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.