In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the Chinese company, a global leader in the production of lithium-ion batteries, announced that the project for the construction of the latest generation lithium battery factory will be launched on Monday at the Técnico Innovation Center, in Lisbon.

The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, the general director of CALB Europe, Sherry Wei, and the president of the Board of Directors of CALB, Liu Jingyu.

According to the company, this “innovative investment” of around two billion euros, considered a Project of National Interest (PIN), should create “1,800 direct jobs” and will have “a significant impact on the Portuguese economy”.

The construction of this unit in Sines, in the district of Setúbal, could “represent more than 4% of the national GDP [Gross Domestic Product] when it reaches full production capacity” in 2028, predicts the Chinese manufacturer.

For the president of the Board of Directors of CALB, Liu Jingyu, quoted in the statement, the project planned for Sines will contribute “to the future of green energy in Portugal” and will support “the transition of the European automotive sector to electric vehicles”

“Our factory will not only create new jobs but will also place Portugal at the forefront of the production of batteries for electric vehicles in Europe,” he highlights.

According to CALB, “this strategic investment” aims to “reinforce its presence in the European market for electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems (BESS)”.

“The project will play a key role in supplying batteries to the European electric mobility sector, responding to the growing demand for clean energy solutions in the region,” he adds.

With the start of construction of the factory, still this year, on land in the Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS), CALB expects the unit to start operating in 2028.

“Once operational, the factory will have a production capacity of 15 GWh of energy storage,” he says.

The industrial unit will occupy approximately 45 of the 92 hectares of the total area of ​​the lot, with the construction of five buildings for the production of electrodes, cells, formation and assembly, packaging and casings.

In the statement, the company considers that the launch of the project “represents a decisive step in CALB's commitment to innovation and technological leadership in the new energy sector, also reinforcing its responsibility on the path to energy security, economic growth and sustainable development”.