IONWAY cathode materials plant (Umicore + PowerCo/VW) in Nysa
IONWAY, a joint venture of Belgium's Umicore and PowerCo (the battery company of the Volkswagen Group), is building its first cathode active materials (CAM) plant for electric-vehicle batteries in Radzikowice on the outskirts of Nysa (Opolskie Voivodeship), within the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone INVEST-PARK. The investment, worth up to approx. EUR 1.7 billion by the end of the decade and supported by a Polish government grant of EUR 350 million, is ultimately to employ approx. 900 people and is being built next to Umicore's existing plant. The plant was announced in October 2023, with production scheduled to start in the first half of 2026.
How it went
Assessment: too early to assess. Signals only where documented.
Timeline
- Announced7 Oct 2023
- Current date2026
Change history
- 22 May 2025stage: construction
- 7 Oct 2023stage: announced
Significance
The investment, worth up to approx. EUR 1.7 billion, is ultimately to create approx. 900 jobs and integrate Poland into the European supply chain for cathode active materials (CAM) for electric-vehicle batteries, alongside Umicore's existing plant in the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone INVEST-PARK. The project received a EUR 350 million grant from the state budget and strengthens the Opolskie region's position as a hub for the electromobility industry. A risk to the pace of production start-up remains the slowdown in demand for electric vehicles in Europe in 2024-2025.
Sources 6 · 5 archived
Every fact on this card comes from the sources below. Next to each source — which fields it supports.
- New European battery materials player IONWAY locates first production plant in Nysa, Poland ↗archived ✓Volkswagen Group7 Oct 2023CostAnnouncedInvestorStagefunding_sources[0]funding_sources[1]
Cost„total investment of up to € 1.7 billion (€ 1.35 billion after grants) by the end of the decade"
Announced„New European battery materials player IONWAY locates first production plant in Nysa, Poland"
cost.funding.1„€ 350 million in cash grants under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework"
funding_sources[0]„The Polish government strongly supports the investment in Nysa ‒ which is expected to create about 900 future-proof industry jobs in Nysa towards the end of the decade ‒ and is offering IONWAY € 350 million in cash grants under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework for a total investment of up to €1.7 billion (€ 1.35 billion after grants) by the end of the decade."
- IONWAY7 Oct 2023CostInvestor
- Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH)Oct 2023InvestorCost
Investor„Umicore and PowerCo, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group ... collaborating through their joint venture called "IONWAY""
- Evertiq22 May 2025StatusStageCurrent date
Status„rozpoczyna się budowa pierwszej w Polsce fabryki materiałów katodowych należącej do spółki Ionway"
Stage„W Radzikowicach (przedmieścia Nysy, woj. opolskie), rozpoczyna się budowa pierwszej w Polsce fabryki materiałów katodowych należącej do spółki Ionway"
Current date„Rozpoczęcie produkcji planowane jest na pierwszą połowę 2026 roku"
locations.0.voivodeship„W Radzikowicach (przedmieścia Nysy, woj. opolskie), rozpoczyna się budowa pierwszej w Polsce fabryki materiałów katodowych"
- Budowa fabryki materiałów akumulatorowych IONWAY na przedmieściach Nysy przebiega zgodnie z planem ↗archived ✓Mikrokontroler.pl26 May 2025StatusStageCurrent date
- domestic_share
domestic_share.band„IONWAY has chosen to build its first CAM production plant in Nysa, Poland, adjacent to Umicore's existing CAM plant. | IONWAY creates 900 industry jobs in Poland to produce cathode active material (CAM) for EVs, the most valuable battery asset | The JV, backed by Umicore and Volkswagen Group-owned PowerCo, is scaling up the EU footprint in the e-mobility business | Moreover, the production facility will benefit from Umicore's nearby CAM knowhow in Nysa and easy access to raw materials from Umicore's refining operations in Finland."