Posted on November 21, 2025
Norwegian battery material company Vianode has revealed plans to set up a billion-dollar production facility in St. Thomas.
The firm aims to build a plant for low-emission synthetic anode graphite, which is essential for making EV batteries, nuclear reactors, semiconductors, aerospace and defense systems, and steel manufacturing.
This project will be rolled out in phases with an initial investment of over $2 billion, potentially increasing to around $3.2 billion as the plant expands later on.
“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 generate almost 300 jobs during its first phase, with up to 1,000 expected once the facility operates at full capacity.
A front-end engineering design study has been completed, and groundwork preparations are currently ongoing to enable production to start 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 significantly reduce global dependence on China, which currently dominates over 80 percent of 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 will be developed using a phased approach aiming for an annual capacity of up to 150,000 tons – enough synthetic graphite to power about two million EVs each year.
The Ontario government has provided a conditional loan of up to $670 million to assist with construction.
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