Vianode receives USD 300 million LOI from Euler Hermes, Germany’s export loan agency, for North American synthetic graphite plant
Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, announces significant progress on the project financing for the planned development of a North American, large-scale synthetic graphite plant. Euler Hermes AG, the export credit agency acting for the German Government, has confirmed in a Letter of Interest, that Vianode is eligible in principle for a loan guarantee of up to USD 300 million.
Vianode’s North American facility is designed for an initial annual capacity of approximately 70,000 tons of synthetic graphite with planned production start in the second half of 2027. The plant represents a multi-billion-dollar investment. The loan guarantee indicated by Euler Hermes AG relates to the procurement of production equipment for the plant.
“The endorsement from Euler Hermes AG is an important step in establishing the overall funding for Vianode's synthetic graphite plant in North America. It complements multiple advanced discussions with export credit agencies, commercial banks and stakeholders within the battery and EV value chain to ensure robust project financing of our facility which will provide local supply of anode graphite. Today, this critical battery material is manufactured at scale almost exclusively in Asia,” says Howard Ormonroyd, CFO at Vianode.
Vianode recently entered into a multi-billion-dollar long-term supply agreement with General Motors (NYSE: GM) for EV battery-grade anode graphite through 2033. Vianode is also in the final stages of the site selection for the plant near the U.S.-Canadian automotive cluster and the company is currently building the local project organization.
Anode graphite is the largest component of a lithium-ion battery by weight and is a vital material in battery and EV supply chains. Vianode produces synthetic anode graphite with a 90% lower CO2 footprint than conventional production methods. Synthetic graphite is manufactured in high-temperature production processes and differs from natural graphite typically mined from carbon-rich rock formations.
Vianode is currently producing anode graphite solutions at Via ONE, the first full-scale production plant at Herøya, Norway, which started production 2024 and at its industrial pilot plant in Kristiansand, Norway, since 2021. Vianode’s Technology Center opened in the same city in 2022.
Contact
Hans Iver Odenrud
Tel +47 958 16 230
Email [email protected]
About Vianode
Vianode is an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions for the battery and EV value chains in North America and Europe. Vianode’s breakthrough solution enables tailored high-performance synthetic anode graphite and a holistic sustainability offering including a 90% reduction in CO2 footprint. Vianode operates the world's most sustainable full-scale anode graphite plant for batteries at Herøya Norway. The next step involves executing multi-billion dollar phased investment program dedicated to establishing large-scale plants across North America and Europe.
Vianode’s long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030. Vianode is owned by the world-leading industrial and financial companies Hydro and Altor.