* To produce cathodes material for EV batteries
* Capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year
* Nornickel, SQM to supply plant
* Construction to start this year
(Writes through, adds partnerships)
By Polina Devitt
MOSCOW, April 19 (Reuters) - Johnson Matthey and
state investor Finnish Minerals Group (FMG) have agreed to build
a plant to produce cathode materials used in electric vehicle
(EV) batteries.
The plant will have a capacity of 30,000 tonnes of cathode
materials and be powered by renewable energy, Johnson Matthey
said in a statement, adding that construction is expected to
start this year.
Russia's Nornickel will supply nickel and cobalt
from its Harjavalta refinery in Finland and Chile's SQM
will supply lithium hydroxide, Johnson Matthey said.
"The developments with Nornickel and SQM, in conjunction
with the investment by Finnish Minerals Group, form an important
part of the sustainable supply chain for our cathode materials
plants in both Finland and Poland," Johnson Matthey said.
The plant will be part of an EV battery cluster in Finland
which also includes German chemicals maker BASF and
Finnish utility Fortum.
Nornickel, a top producer of nickel, said last week it would
boost output of nickel products at Harjavalta.
(Reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by Louise Heavens and
Edmund Blair)