OCI starts construction of special material plant for silicon anode material of secondary batteries, receives large-scale supply contract (Korea)

OCI, a chemical company, has begun construction on a plant to manufacture monosilane (SiH4), a special material needed to produce silicon anode materials for secondary batteries, thereby expanding its secondary battery materials business.
The facility will be located in the Gunsan National Industrial Complex in North Jeolla Province. It will be built on the premises of the company's factory, which produces polysilicon for semiconductors and phosphoric acid.
The company aims to complete the project in the January-June quarter of 2025. In July 2023, the company announced a five-year deal worth approximately 70 billion won (approximately 7.982 billion yen) with Nexeon, which manufactures anode materials, over the next five years from 2025.
The company signed a contract to supply special silicon anode materials. The initial production capacity will be 1,000 tons, with plans to expand in line with the growth of the global secondary battery market.
OCI plans to start construction of the silicon anode special material plant and then get serious about expanding its semiconductor and secondary battery materials business.
It is the first Korean company to develop high-softening-point pitch, an essential material for coating. It is also working with Tokuyama, a comprehensive chemical manufacturer, to build a factory in Malaysia that manufactures semi-finished polysilicon for semiconductors.
The company plans to establish a new subsidiary in China in 2021. In addition, the company is currently pursuing projects and R&D investments to expand its semiconductor and secondary battery materials businesses.