Project news around the world highlights Luxoft in Turin; a
billion-dollar biologics project in Dublin; a $4.5 billion refinery in
Pakistan; recycling from Novelis in South Korea; a $5 billion steel
expansion in Gujarat, India; Turkmenistan’s $1.4 billion fertilizer
plant; a $1 billion, 5-million-sq.-ft. EV plant in Thailand; and the
three companies honored with the U.S. Secretary of State’s Award for
Corporate Excellence.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin says his city’s deep talent pool and powerful
concentration of industry leaders are complemented by tremendous
culture, cuisine, energy and vibrancy.
This national network representing more than 1,400 advisors and experts
at some 375 MEP service locations across the nation could be the most
valuable, yet frequently overlooked, tool in a growing company’s
toolbox.
Last week General Motors and Lithium Americas Corp.
announced they will jointly invest to develop the Thacker
Pass mine in Nevada. Under the agreement, GM will make a
$650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas, which
estimates the lithium extracted and processed from the
project can support production of up to 1 million EVs per
year. Ron Starner last September documented activity involving Thacker
Pass and other lithium opportunities in Nevada. This new report from the U.S. Geological
Survey documents the rapid climb in lithium
production worldwide, 80% of which is destined for
lithium-ion batteries. “This relationship underscores our
commitment to develop a sustainable domestic lithium supply
chain for electric vehicles,” said Lithium Americas
President and CEO Jonathan Evans. “We are pleased to have GM
as our largest investor, and we look forward to working
together to accelerate the energy transition while spurring
job creation and economic growth in America.”
PROJECT WATCH
Mexico
This project in Heroica Zitácuaro in the northeastern region of the
Mexican state of Michoacán is expected to begin operating during the
second quarter of 2025. “ARAUCO is the primary producer of plywood in
Mexico,” said the company, “and this project is expected to add about
300,000 cubic meters of MDF production per year, of which half would be
melamine coated to meet the growing demand of the furniture,
construction, and interior decorating industries in Mexico.” The company
also is continuing to ramp up its $2.8 billion, 8,500-worker pulp mill
in Arauco in the Bio Bio region of Chile and is moving forward on a $3
billion pulp mill in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
This new facility expands Cytiva’s manufacturing capacity of aseptic
filling machines by over 200%. “The machines, known as workcells,
provide gloveless, robotic aseptic filling capability for final drug
product into vials, syringes, and cartridges,” said the company when the
site opened last year. “The site will serve as a Center of Excellence
for Cytiva’s Aseptic Filling business, housing R&D and service, and will
be a base for the global customer user group.” The facility is located
next to the Fraser River less than twenty minutes from Vancouver
International Airport and one hour from the U.S. border. “The facility
will house around 200 employees by the end of 2022, with room for future
expansion,” Cytiva said. Cytiva employs nearly 10,000 people in more
than 40 countries.
Before, during and after the events of the past week, people in the Big
Sky State like to look up just to see the Montana sky itself. Last month
Site Selection Publisher and Director Laura Lyne made this photograph of
a sunlit barn in front of Mission Mountain in Ronan, Montana.
