Japan’s UBE Corporation has broken ground in Louisiana on what will be the US’s only dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) plant – key components for lithium-ion batteries in EVs and battery storage. DMC is also used in semiconductors.

The EV battery material plant officially kicked off on February 13 with a ceremonial sake barrel-breaking ceremony (pictured). The $500 million UBE project got the green light from the Jefferson Parish Council in November 2024, and it’s expected to give the local job market a boost. Once construction kicks off in 2025 at Cornerstone Energy Park in Waggaman, the project will create over 400 temporary construction jobs. When the plant comes online in November 2026, it’ll support 50-60 full-time, skilled positions.

The plant will create the first domestic US supply of DMC and EMC and reduce US reliance on imports. “UBE’s proprietary nitrite process, which we have been developing since the 1970s, enables us to realize a very limited environmental impact and much fewer by-products compared to other existing plants and processes, particularly in mainland China,” said Masato Izumihara, president and representative director of UBE.

UBE says the EV battery material plant, which will be constructed and managed through its 100% US subsidiary, UBE C1 Chemicals America, will produce 100,000 tons of DMC annually and 40,000 tons of EMC derived from DMC annually.

Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, said, “By establishing the nation’s first domestic production of these critical EV battery components, UBE is strengthening American manufacturing while creating high-quality jobs in Jefferson Parish.”

Nola.com writes that “UBE is one of at least six companies to announce plans to build or expand EV materials manufacturing facilities in Louisiana since 2022, bringing with them a total investment of $2.4 billion and over 600 jobs.”