Taiwanese Firm Halts $1B Battery Plant Expansion in British Columbia

E-One Moli cites shifting global market conditions and a focus on Taiwanese production for pausing the Maple Ridge project.

E-One Moli, a subsidiary of Taiwan Cement Corp., has paused plans to expand its lithium-ion battery plant in Maple Ridge, B.C., a project initially announced in November 2023.
The $1-billion expansion was expected to create 350 permanent jobs and received $284.5 million in combined federal and provincial funding commitments, none of which has been disbursed.
Company chairman Nelson Chang cited the need to prioritize achieving full efficiency at its Taiwanese facility and changing global market dynamics as reasons for the decision.
Experts attribute the pause to an oversupply of batteries, slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption, and uncertainty over government incentives in major markets like Canada and the U.S.
Local officials, including Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy, remain optimistic that the project will resume, emphasizing the long-term viability of non-automotive battery production in the region.