China-France Joint Venture Lithium Battery Materials Plant: Chinese Side Holds 51%
China-France – A China-France joint venture, Neomat CAM, officially launched. French Minister of the Economy Roland Lescure attended the groundbreaking ceremony on May 29, praising the factory as a "key link in battery technology research and innovation." Mr. Lescure added that this joint venture "will demonstrate how France and Europe can collaborate with China in a mutually beneficial and win-win manner—not through destructive competition, but through cooperation to co-create the future."
The joint venture, named Neomat CAM (France), is located in Dunkerque in northern France, targeting the European market with an annual production capacity of up to 500,000 electric vehicles. It is expected to begin operations by the end of 2028.
There has been a change in ownership structure. A report from July 2025 indicated that Xiamen Tungsten New Energy invested €103 million and held a 49% stake; however, a year later, AFP reported that Orano holds 49%, while Xiamen Tungsten New Energy now holds over 50%, becoming the absolute majority shareholder with 51% and full control over the company.
The project's total investment amounts to €500 million, with about one-quarter coming from France’s Green Industry Tax Credit (C3IV). Philippe Hatron, Director of Orano’s Battery Project, told AFP: "The project also includes establishing a research and development center in Dunkerque, which will be operational immediately after the factory starts production."
The factory is situated in the heart of France’s Battery Valley at the Port of Dunkerque. During construction, it is expected to employ nearly 400 workers, and upon operation, it will directly create 400 jobs—90% of which will be local positions, according to Orano.
Philippe Hatron, Orano’s Battery Project Director, said: "This factory perfectly fits into the ecosystem of Battery Valley, as our customers are all mega-factories, and we already have three major mega-factories within Battery Valley." All French battery manufacturers are based in the Hauts-de-France region: ACC (a joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies), AESC (a Japanese company controlled by China’s Envision Group), French startup Verkor, and Taiwan’s ProLogium Group.
According to Orano’s projections, if market conditions remain favorable, Neomat CAM aims to double its capacity to 80,000 tons annually by 2035—equivalent to 1 million vehicles equipped with these batteries—accounting for approximately 10% of the European market.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866610007765064/
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