A new factory will be opening in Coosa County that will be used to produce materials needed to build batteries for electric cars.
Westwater Resources Inc. of Colorado will open the plant by the end of 2022, creating 100 new jobs in east Alabama. The company owns Alabama Graphite Products, which will produce the graphite used in lithium-ion and other types of batteries. The factory whill be the first major location in the country to produce refined graphite.
Gov. Kay Ivey said the plant, in additon to the four other automotive plants throughout the state, will help attract manufacturing jobs.
Alabama Graphite will begin producing about 7,500 tons of battery-grade graphite before eventually doubling in capacity.