CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Charlotte-based Albemarle Corporation announced it will invest at least $13 billion dollars and create more than 300 jobs in a new "Mega-Flex" lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County, South Carolina.
Albemarle will construct the conversion facility on nearly 800 acres near Richburg, along I-77 between Rock Hill and Columbia. The facility will process diverse lithium feedstock, including lithium from recycled batteries, and is expected to annually produce approximately 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from multiple sources, with the potential to reach up to 100,000 metric tons.
Electric vehicle production is beginning to take off in South Carolina. Existing manufacturers such as BMW and Volvo are already building EVs in Greenville and Charleston, and recently announced Volkswagen Group-backed Scout Motors Inc will be establishing a site near Blythewood. Clemson University created a new School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering in early 2023 for research and development of EVs.
Construction is expected to begin in 2024. Individuals interested in joining the Albemarle team should visit the company’s careers page.
