The battery sector can do without the project of the German multinational BASF in Bécancour, if the project is ever abandoned, assures the Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon.

BASF has not yet found a partner in the automotive sector to start its cathode plant project, announced in spring 2022. The project was initially scheduled to be completed in 2025. Radio-Canada revealed the information earlier in October, but the Minister of the Economy had not yet reacted on the subject.

Fitzgibbon confirmed the project was “on ice for the moment” on Monday, alongside an announcement on quantum computing. “Their land is still reserved, but there hasn’t been any activity for a while. »

When it announced its plan, BASF hoped to be able to produce 100,000 tons of battery cathode materials per year. The dynamics of the industry have changed since then as major automakers deploy projects in partnership with other companies, as GM did in Quebec with the Korean company Posco.

The suspension of the BASF project does not create a hole in the battery sector, believes Mr. Fitzgibbon. “In terms of the cathodes, I am very satisfied with what we have. We have three. »

He listed the joint venture project between GM and Posco, that of Ford as well as that of Northvolt. “BASF, if they want to come, will be welcome, but there are other things we can do with the available energy so I’m not tormented by that. »

In September, Prime Minister François Legault stressed that Quebec was receiving more project proposals in the battery sector than the capacity of the Hydro-Québec network was able to supply.

Mr. Legault had mentioned the possibility of announcing 15 billion new projects in the battery sector, during the unveiling of the Northvolt project. These new investments would bring the total to 30 billion.