이 기사는 2021년 03월 16일 08:06 thebell 에 표출된 기사입니다.

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) said last Friday that it will invest 5 trillion won ($4.5 billion) by 2025 to expand its battery production capacity in the United States to meet growing demand in the key market, a move to preoccupy the market in line with the Joe Biden administration’s Green New Deal initiative.

The battery subsidiary wholly owned by LG Chem said the investment will help increase its U.S. production capacity to 75 gigawatt hours (GWh).

LGES operates a lithium-ion battery factory in Michigan and is building a new factory through its joint venture with U.S. automaker General Motors, which will be completed in 2022.

Market observers are paying attention to whether LGES’ investment will settle the controversy over public interests in the U.S., which has been raised after the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) gave a final ruling in favor of LGES.

LGES accused SK Innovation of misappropriating trade secrets related to electric vehicle battery technology. The commission also issued a 10-year exclusion order banning SK Innovation from importing some batteries into the U.S.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has asked Joe Biden to overturn the USITC’s decision against SK Innovation, saying, “Unfortunately, the International Trade Commission’s recent ruling puts SK’s significant investment in 2,600 clean energy jobs and innovative manufacturing in peril during a pandemic.”

“The ITC’s decision does not fully consider possible impacts of the import ban on the public interest,” said SK Innovation after the ruling. It also said it will strongly ask Biden to exercise his veto power over the commission's decision.

LGES said the 5 trillion won investment will help create 10,000 jobs, including 6,000 subcontractors. Industry watchers said this will counteract SK Innovation’s claim of hindering public interest in the country.

LGES also said its joint venture with GM will select a site for a second factory that will be similar in size with the first factory in the first half of this year. This will give the company a manufacturing capacity of over 140 GWh. (Reporting by Ki-soo Park)