ST. LOUIS – ICL Group, a global specialty minerals company, has announced plans to build a large battery materials manufacturing plant in north St. Louis City.

ICL Group plans to create a large-scale commercial production plant in north St. Louis to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material (CAM), a critical component for energy storage systems and electric vehicle markets.

Nonprofit Greater St. Louis, Inc. says that ICL Group plans to invest half a billion dollars into the new facility, which could help create more than 150 new jobs in the city.

ICL Group, which is currently headquartered in St. Louis County, currently employs 335 people in the region across three existing locations: Its North American headquarters at 622 Emerson Road, an R&D center in Webster Groves, and a production plant in the city’s Carondelet neighborhood

“ICL Group’s expansion is exciting news for St. Louis, our state, and our nation’s manufacturing independence,” said Gov. Mike Parson via a news release. “When we met in Israel just two years ago, ICL Group demonstrated a commitment to innovation and economic growth that we’re sure will benefit Missourians for years to come.”

“Our expansion into north St. Louis demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the city. While we will continue to be a good neighbor in south St. Louis, at our existing 19-acre campus, we also look forward to bringing positive economic change to north St. Louis with our new facility,” said Phil Brown, president of the Phosphate Specialties and managing director of North America for ICL Group.

ICL Group has not yet disclosed possible timetables or a precise location for its new north St. Louis manufacturing plant.

The facility will come in tandem with the Missouri Works program, which helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation.

ICL Group also global facilities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, China and Japan.