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Greatpower Technology Co, a Chinese supplier of chemicals for lithium-ion batteries, will start producing nickel sulphate from a plant in eastern China's Zhejiang province by the end of this year. Nickel sulphate, like the sulphate form of sister metal cobalt, is a sought-after ingredient in cathodes for batteries used in electric vehicles, for which China's is the world's biggest market. Mr Cao Dongqiang chairman told Reuters in an interview in Shanghai that Greatpower's factory in the city of Shaoxing already produces 15,000 tonnes per year of cobalt sulphate but the rate will rise to 30,000 tonnes per year by August. He added that the nickel sulphate facilities, with annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes, are still under construction but will begin production in the second half of 2019.
Mr Cao said that "Nickel sulphate is extremely popular adding that demand for the battery materials was still strong in China, even as the country scales back electric vehicle sector subsidies.” He said that production will be sold to companies that make precursors for lithium-ion batteries, Cao said. Such firms include Ningbo Shanshan and GEM Co.