Epsilon Advanced Materials selects Brunswick County for new plant, bringing 500 jobs to area
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Epsilon Advanced Materials, Inc., a global provider of synthetic graphite used in electric vehicle batteries, will build its first manufacturing facility in the United States in Brunswick County.
The plant will create 500 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced Thursday afternoon.
“North Carolina continues to lead the way in the transition to a clean energy economy by attracting good-paying jobs from great companies like Epsilon that make our state stronger and healthier,” said Governor Cooper. “This historic investment will bring 500 clean energy jobs to Brunswick County, helping both our economy and our environment.”
The Indian-based company will invest $649.9 million at the Mid-Atlantic Rail Industrial Park.
“The location provides for close proximity to rail and ports,” said Governor Cooper. “They want to be able to supply the United States. It’s important that the jobs that are part of the clean energy economy are American jobs and more specially, we want them to be North Carolina jobs.”
Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM), a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Epsilon Carbon Private Limited, was established in 2018 to develop and manufacture innovative, high-performance graphite, used for anode components in lithium-ion batteries.
“This facility is the largest Indian investment in the U.S. electric vehicle battery industry and we’re proud to have North Carolina as the centerpiece of our U.S. manufacturing strategy,” said Vikram Handa, EAM Founder and Managing Director. “Having an environmentally friendly world-class facility in North Carolina will allow EAM to provide synthetic and natural graphite anodes to the growing EV battery industry faster, more reliably and at a competitive cost.”
“Epsilon has developed its own technology, its own process that’s a very carbon-friendly process, environmental friendly,” said Sunit Kapur, EAM Chief Executive Officer. “We have about 70% lower carbon footprint than what’s made in China and that’s what we’re bringing to Brunswick over here.”
“When you think about Epsilon and what they do with graphite: the fact that a lithium mine is going to be a critical mineral for this,” said Governor Cooper. “Already we have Toyota’s EV battery plant that’s in the process of being built now. This supply chain is really important.”
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $52,264. The current average wage in Brunswick County is $46,464.
Work is expected to begin on the facility in 2024 and manufacturing will begin in 2026.
Because Epsilon chose a site in Brunswick County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 3, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $1.14 million into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 3 county such as Brunswick, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps other economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state.
“We’re so excited to welcome a global manufacturer to one of the state’s premier megasites, the Mid-Atlantic Rail Industrial Park,” said Senator Bill Rabon. “Many companies find our state’s southeast region an inviting place to locate, and we’re confident Epsilon Advanced Materials will also enjoy the many advantages of a Brunswick County business location.”
“Today’s decision by Epsilon Advanced Materials proves once again that North Carolina is one of the best business locations in the United States,” said Representative Frank Iler. “Many people in our community worked hard to bring these jobs to our region and we will continue to work together to support this company’s continued growth in our state.”
