Norwegian battery materials producer Vianode will construct a large-scale synthetic anode graphite production facility in St. Thomas, Ontario, near the site of PowerCo’s battery plant. The multi-phase investment is expected to begin with over 2 billion Canadian dollars (€1.2 billion) and eventually scale production to 150,000 tonnes per year, with operations scheduled to start in 2028. The initial phase is expected to create around 300 jobs, rising to as many as 1,000 with full expansion.
The facility, named “Via Two,” will follow Vianode’s first plant, “Via One,” in Herøya, Norway, which has been operational since 2024. Vianode has been producing synthetic anode graphite since 2021 at a pilot facility in Kristiansand.
While located near PowerCo’s new battery plant, the Ontario facility will supply a different client. In January 2025, Vianode signed a supply agreement with General Motors for high-performance anode graphite, with the St. Thomas plant confirmed as the North American production site. The plant’s launch delay from 2027 to 2028 is not expected to affect GM’s operations, as the automaker has recently adjusted its electric vehicle strategy.
Vianode emphasized that synthetic graphite serves a broad range of industries beyond EV batteries, including semiconductors, grid-scale energy storage, nuclear reactors, defense systems, and steel production. The company said domestic production in North America will strengthen supply chain resilience, which currently relies heavily on Chinese sources.
See also: Vianode Secures €33.4 Million to Scale Up Sustainable Battery Materials in Norway
Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode, highlighted the strategic importance of the plant, saying it will “provide Canada with domestic capacity that will make supply chains more resilient” and supports the company’s ambition to be a leading supplier for G7 markets.
The choice of St. Thomas reflects Ontario’s manufacturing infrastructure, access to low-carbon electricity, and government support. Emanuele Tricca, Managing Director of Vianode Canada, noted the province’s commitment to closing strategic gaps in the critical minerals supply chain and creating jobs that enhance economic resilience. Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hogdson, added that the federal government is backing the project through the Critical Minerals Production Alliance to accelerate secure supply chains for clean energy and defense sectors.
