Umicore has selected a site in Nysa, Poland, to build a plant to make cathode materials for the European automotive market. The first phase of this investment is included in a €660 million program announced earlier in 2018 and is due to start deliveries in late 2020. Nysa is reportedly near the company’s European customers and will give access to a workforce as well as low-carbon electricity supply. The first phase is expected to create up to 400 jobs. Umicore also plans to build a process competence center at its existing site in Olen, Belgium. The center is expected to be commissioned in late 2019 and will be employing around 20 researchers. ‘Both decisions are major milestones for Umicore and will significantly contribute to the European Union’s initiative to promulgate a leading rechargeable battery industry based on innovative technologies and a sustainable supply chain,’ said Marc Grynberg, CEO of Umicore. Umicore;www.umicore.com