IL Signs Solid-State Battery Investment Agreement with South Chungcheong Province and Cheonan

IL announced on the 14th that it had signed a memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation with South Chungcheong Province and Cheonan at the 'Joint Investment Agreement Ceremony for Excellent Companies' held at the South Chungcheong Provincial Government Office on the 13th. The event was attended by Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, Seok-pil Kim, Acting Mayor of Cheonan, and representatives from major companies.
Through this agreement, IL will move forward with new investments centered on the construction of its third plant in Cheonan. South Chungcheong Province and Cheonan will provide administrative and financial support, actively backing the company's stable growth. In particular, with additional local government support for the construction costs of the third plant, the investment process is expected to accelerate further.
IL's third plant will serve as a strategic hub in preparation for the era of solid-state batteries (SSB). The company has secured a 4,423-square-meter site near the Cheonan Smart Factory and has completed applications for development activity permits and new plant approval.
In line with this, South Chungcheong Province recently announced a strategy to foster the rechargeable battery industry, unveiling a vision to invest a total of 65 billion KRW to develop the region into a next-generation Battery Cluster. IL's plan to establish a lithium metal anode sheet production line for SSBs aligns with this strategy and is expected to lay the foundation for leading the next-generation battery industry.
Recently, a delegation of former U.S. lawmakers visited IL to discuss potential cooperation in solid-state battery technology. The delegation highly praised IL's lithium metal anode-based technology and research and development infrastructure, expressing their intention to explore joint development and market entry with U.S. companies.
Additionally, IL plans to establish a production line for mobility lamps at the third plant, leveraging its industry-first commercialized Silicone Lens Optical Technology. By simultaneously strengthening its battery and lamp businesses, the company aims to expand its technology portfolio, significantly improve production efficiency, and enhance its responsiveness to global customers.
Sung-Geun Song, CEO of IL, stated, "The third plant in Cheonan will be a key hub for leading the era of solid-state batteries. Through integrated production lines for lithium metal anode sheets and silicone lens lamps, we will strengthen both our technological competitiveness and production efficiency, driving expansion into the global market."

butter@fnnews.com Kang Kyung-rae Reporter