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What is the investment process of the factory (GTHR - Guotai-Huarong) in terms of obtaining the necessary environmental approvals and the safety of Godzikowice residents?

The investment process of our factory (GTHR - Guotai-Huarong) has been going on for more than a year. During this time, we have answered a number of very detailed questions addressed to us by all the authorities interested in the investment. As a reminder, the main task of these authorities is to take absolute care of safety and the environment. During this time we determined what fire protection and grounding systems we would use. These were prescribed by the authorities and designed and confirmed by certified institutions.

We have also taken a number of additional measures to address possible safety concerns, and our entire production process has been subjected to a HAZOP procedure by a certified Polish company. We are now at the end of the official road and our explanations have cleared up most of the previous doubts about possible risks.

How do you intend to dispose of unnecessary substances from production? What will happen to the substance 1,3-propane sultone?

Our production line is an airtight technology, and the processes inside are carried out in a nitrogen (inert gas) atmosphere. We will have a ventilation system and a VOC disposal system to collect all used gases and decompose organic substances into harmless substances. We will also have our own wastewater treatment plant to ensure effective treatment of these substances. Only in the next stage will we transfer them to the local wastewater treatment plant. Note that in the wastewater treatment process, 1,3-propane sultone completely disappears. No special chemical processes take place there except for the mixing of selected substances.

We will also implement all measures to prevent direct contact between employees and raw materials - this is our obligation under very strict regulations. Employees will have to undergo special training beforehand in order to work for us. The safety of people as well as the environment is of paramount importance to us.

What are the safety processes at a GTHR factory? Can failures occur in the factory?

We have been focusing on electrolyte production for more than 17 years, and the current factory has been operating without any problems since the beginning. No accident has ever occurred there. In addition, every employee at our factory in China is subject to systematic medical tests and examinations (at least once or twice a year), and the results have never shown any signs or symptoms to worry about. We will introduce similar checks in Poland.

At our factory in Godzikowice, we will design and build special structures for possible leaks for each container storing raw materials and products. We will also create a fire protection system, which will be designed and certified by Polish fire experts. Even if such an accident were to occur, the mixture of water and raw material would be collected by no-drain tanks and would be transferred to an emergency reservoir, and then degraded by a wastewater treatment plant.

Is the GTHR plant prepared for a potential industrial accident?

We have designed a full set of tools to manage safety in the event of such accidents, and have prepared a set of relevant rules and regulations, including a plan for on-site disposal of the substance. The storage capacity of raw materials will be completely controlled by specialized safety monitoring equipment.

Residents are protesting the construction of an electrolyte plant in Godzikowice, fearing the harmful processes that will take place there. Are their concerns justified?

Our production process for non-aqueous electrolyte mainly involves transferring and mixing various raw materials in nitrogen-confined lines, controlling the production procedure in a low-temperature environment, and finally delivering our product to customers. Along with the basic mixing process, an adsorption and filtration process is used to improve the quality of the product. As we have already mentioned, the production process in our plant is only physical mixing. We want to emphasize that chemical reactions will not take place here. As well as processes: high pressure and high temperature, which will never take place in our production.

According to informal information, one of the substances used will be nitrile from which, as a result of smoking, hydrogen cyanide is emitted. Is this true?

This is a very big misunderstanding. Our products will be supplied mainly to LG Chem, where they will be used in the production of batteries used in electric vehicles, which by their very nature do not require the inclusion of this substance. Nitrile is therefore a substance that is completely unnecessary for our process. As a result, nitrile is not among the substances we will use. We will never use it in Poland.

What GTHR's communication with residents will look like?

We are eager to communicate with everyone who is concerned about safety issues caused by the construction of our plant. We realize that a lack of communication and answers to safety-related questions lead to a lot of misunderstandings, so we will do everything we can to alleviate residents' concerns. In the future, both during construction and once work begins, we will want to show everyone interested in the details of the production taking place at our factory. On the other hand, there is really no cause for concern when it comes to environmental and human safety issues. The plans for our presence in Godzikowice are not only about production. We want to get involved in the daily life of the municipality and cooperate with residents on various local projects. We are already getting a lot of questions from residents about working at our factory, and we are very pleased with this interest. Once again, we would like to thank the authorities of Poland and the Oława municipality for inviting us to be here.

We present to you a letter from Professor Jerzy Buzek to the Opole University of Technology, in which he speaks very positively about future Sino-Polish cooperation on electromobility in Poland.

 

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

European Union countries, including Poland, have been making efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in power generation, industry and transportation for years. Our country has already achieved much in the field of transformation to a low-carbon economy, introducing modern technological solutions in the coal power industry, as well as increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the country's energy mix. This would not have been possible without adequate support from EU programs focused on research and innovation.

However, another challenge lies ahead. It should be borne in mind that one-fifth of CO2 emissions in Europe come from transportation, which is the main source of pollution in our cities, hence the need to promote electric-powered transportation in the European Union and in Poland. Both the European Union and Poland are betting on the development and popularization of the electric car sector and the necessary infrastructure (charging stations, energy storage technologies).

The electromobility development plan prepared by the Ministry of Energy assumes that by 2025 there will be one million electrically powered cars on Polish roads. However, the program itself to stimulate electromobility development must not focus only on the production of electric cars and buses. What is important here is research and development that will allow Polish companies to compete in international markets. Electromobility, the development of low-emission and sustainable transport, is an important item of the Horizon 2020 program currently being implemented - the largest EU program in the field of innovation and development. The European Union is working on the next Framework Program - Horizon Europe 2021-2027, which is expected to allocate €100 billion for research and development.

When talking about the development of electromobility in Europe, it is impossible not to draw on the experience of other European and non-European countries. The world leader in the production of hybrid and battery-electric cars is China, which is successfully entering European markets. The memorandum on Polish-Chinese cooperation in the field of electromobility, signed in 2017, can be the first step in creating a platform for cooperation between companies and research institutions and cooperative research and technological development.

Taking into account the new perspective of the distribution of EU funds for research and development, I would like to ask you whether your institution is involved in the development of electromobility (research, development, production, assembly) and whether the undertaken or planned cooperation with countries outside the EU (China, South Korea, Japan).

Prof. Jerzy Buzek
Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.”

Interview with Yuan Xiangyun - general director and board member of GTHR (Poland)

 

Please tell us why you chose Poland, specifically Lower Silesia and Oława Municipality, as the site of your investment?

The factory in Godzikowice will be our first foreign investment. We considered many locations. However, the decisive aspect was its location practically in the center of Europe. Well-developed transportation infrastructure and access to skilled workers are great advantages of the Olawa Municipality. Since living in Poland, I have also learned that Poles are an extremely resourceful, hard-working and friendly nation. Personally, I am very happy that the choice fell on Godzikowice.

How is the construction plan presented? When will the factory start production?

At the end of May, we finalized the purchase of land for the factory. Now we are at the stage of collecting the necessary approvals and final work on the design of the entire factory. All this is being done in accordance with Polish law and the requirements imposed on us by the regulations in force here. We are also adjusting our operating standards to those of Poland. Once all the documents are completed, we will start construction. We plan to start it in late 2018 or early 2019. Construction work will take about a year. We will start production soon after construction is completed.

Please tell us what the factory will specifically produce?

Jesteśmy zaawansowaną technologicznie firmą  i produkujemy materiał do wkładów do baterii litowych. Jako jeden z trzech największych dostawców elektrolitów na świecie, specjalizujemy się w produkcji elektrolitu i mamy lata doświadczeń. Działamy zgodnie z najwyższymi standardami według ISO9001 i TS16949. Będziemy produkować elektrolit do baterii litowych do aut elektrycznych. Całkowita produkcja pozwoli na dostarczanie wkładów do 1 000 000 (milion) aut rocznie.

The production of electrolyte appears to be complex and high risk. Will the factory's operations affect the health of local residents?

Our factory will have absolutely no impact on the health of local residents. We have many years of experience in producing this raw material. Our factories and machinery are properly designed so that none of our employees have direct contact with the materials we use in production. We operate according to the highest standards according to ISO9001 and TS16949. Every stage of factory construction and machine design is strictly controlled. All production will take place in sealed, closed systems. And all by-products will be properly secured and neutralized, and solid and liquid materials will be exported and disposed of. Residents should have nothing to fear.

And what if there is some kind of accident, a leak?

In our long history of operations, not a single accident has occurred. Our factories are properly constructed and protected. From the beginning, our highest value has been our employees and their safety is our top priority. Of course, we will be adequately prepared for a possible emergency. We have developed special procedures for such an eventuality. However, our experience allows us to reduce any risk to a minimum.

Will you be looking for employees in the municipality? What will be the expectations of the sought-after crew?

As much as possible, we will be looking for employees locally. The ability to speak English, at least communicatively, will be a significant advantage. We will be looking for employees with experience of working in large manufacturing companies with a chemical profile. For individual positions, newly hired persons will receive appropriate training. We will announce the recruitment, among other things, on our website. We also plan to cooperate with local universities and partners. Over time, we will explore new opportunities for cooperation and research.

What additional benefits will the municipality receive after the factory is built in its area?

From the very beginning, we will support local industry with our activities. The operation of the lithium cartridge factory will provide raw materials to be used by European and global companies building batteries for electric cars. The location of the factory in Lower Silesia will complement the European and regional network of the electric car industry. At the same time, it will strengthen the local market and make it more competitive and complete. Such a large production plant will realistically affect the development of the local economy through the payment of taxes to the municipal budget and a wide range of employment opportunities for local residents.

Thank you for the interview and good luck with your investment!

I also thank you very much. You can find more information about our activities on our website www.gthr.pl. See you there!

 

The interview appeared on 05.07.2018 on the Oława Municipality website (read: www.gimnaolawa.pl)

Chinese electric car battery component manufacturer Guotai-Huarong Poland is building a factory in Godzikowice. The project is worth $45 million, and the factory will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe. One hundred people are expected to work there eventually.

The investment of the Chinese company was announced by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The investor (Zhangjiagang Guotai-Huarong New Chemical Materials), one of the world's three largest suppliers of electrolyte, used in lithium-ion batteries, will build a factory for its flagship product in the Olawa municipality by 2020. The plant will employ 100 people.

“We are extremely pleased that such investments are being made in Poland, which is becoming one of the most important participants in this industry in the world.” - Krzysztof Senger, PAIH vice president, quoted in Wednesday's announcement, said.

One of the largest factories in Europe

The factory in Godzikowice will be one of the largest in Europe. The factory's annual production volume would allow it to supply battery cartridges for one million electric cars.

PAIH is currently conducting 14 projects in the electromobility segment with a total value of €2.87 billion, which could create nearly 4,400 jobs. Asian countries dominate among countries investing in electromobility.

The original text appeared on www.tvn24bis.pl