Element 25's $480M EV Battery Facility Project Faces Site Securing Issues in Louisiana

Element 25's proposed $480 million electric vehicle battery materials facility in Ascension Parish is uncertain after failing to secure a site. The company is reportedly considering a location in Baton Rouge. The facility could produce high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate, vital for EV batteries, creating up to 220 jobs with average salaries over $90,000, and is expected to be operational by 2026.

Published Mar 26, 2026

Australian mining company Element 25's $480 million project to build an electric vehicle battery materials facility in Ascension Parish is currently stalled due to challenges in securing a site. Local officials reported that Element 25 is exploring alternatives in Baton Rouge.

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The facility is intended to manufacture high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate, an essential component for EV batteries, potentially generating 220 jobs with average salaries exceeding $90,000. In 2024, Element 25 entered a binding term sheet with Veolia North America for a site in Burnside, adjacent to Veolia's sulfuric acid facility, which would supply necessary materials via pipeline over 20 years.