Brazil's CBMM to invest US$80mn to boost niobium oxide capacity

Brazil's CBMM, the world’s largest supplier of niobium products, plans to invest US$80mn to increase niobium oxide capacity to 3,000t by 2024 from the current 500t, the company said in a statement. 

The plan involves a partnership with Echion Technologies, which operates in the battery segment, for the construction of a niobium oxide factory at CBMM’s plant in Araxá, in Minas Gerais state.

CBMM said the investment is in line with its aim of reaching capacity of 40,000t of niobium oxide in 2030.

The new unit will have the capacity to supply material equivalent to 1GWh of battery cell production, positioning Echion as the first in the market to guarantee the commercial supply of battery anode oxides based on niobium, according to the release.

“In 2021, CBMM invested [in a stake] in Echion through our new business area, and this new partnership is in line with the company's strategic growth plan, which has the battery program as one of the pillars for business diversification following the global megatrend of electrification,” said Rogério Ribas, the head of battery products at CBMM.