Norwegian battery material producer Vianode has announced plans to build a multi-billion-dollar production facility in St. Thomas.

The company intends to construct a plant for low-emission synthetic anode graphite – a key component in manufacturing EV batteries, nuclear reactors, semiconductors, aerospace and defence systems, and steelmaking. 

The project is structured as a phased, multi‑billion‑dollar investment, starting with an initial investment of more than $2 billion and rising to as much as $3.2 billion with later plant expansions.

“North American supply chains are heavily reliant on graphite sourced from China for lithium-ion batteries, defence technologies, nuclear technology and more,” said Vianode CEO Burkhard Straube. “A large-scale facility in Ontario delivering high-performance anode graphite solutions will provide Canada with domestic capacity that will make supply chains more resilient. This scalable project is a key building block that aligns with recent shifts in trade policy and supports our ambition to be a leading and trusted supplier for G7 supply chains.”

Vianode’s investment will create nearly 300 jobs in its initial phase, with as many as 1,000 expected once the facility is at full operational capacity.

A front-end engineering design study has been conducted, and ground preparation works are under way to enable start of production in 2028.

"Canada and Vianode are a perfect match. Ontario is home to major manufacturing hubs, with access to world-class infrastructure and a low-carbon electricity grid. The province has all the characteristics we are looking for,” said Vianode’s Managing Director in Canada, Emanuele Tricca.

As the first large-scale low-emission synthetic graphite facility in North America, the plant will play a key role in displacing global reliance on China, which currently controls more than 80 per cent of the global production of this critical component.

“With economic uncertainty undermining global supply chains, Ontario continues to stand as the stable and reliable economic partner that our allies are looking for,” said Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli.

The St. Thomas facility is being constructed in a multi-phased approach that will ultimately reach up to 150,000 tons of annual capacity — enough synthetic graphite to supply roughly two million EVs each year.

The Ontario government has provided a conditional loan of up to $670 million to support construction.