Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom is acquiring a 49% stake in Enertech International Inc – a South Korean manufacturer of electrodes, lithium-ion storage cells and energy storage systems.

The undisclosed agreement, done via Rosatom’s subsidiary Renera, also includes building a facility to manufacture lithium-ion cells and energy storage systems in Russia. The plant is expected to have “at least” 2 gigawatt-hour capacity by 2030. Operations are set to start in 2025, Kallanish learns from a Rosatom statement.

‘Made in Russia’ lithium-ion batteries would be applied to electric vehicles, potentially becoming a “landmark event” for the domestic automotive industry, says Rosatom. A battery gigafactory would reduce Russia’s reliance on imports and lower the cost of its final products. This, in turn, would likely boost the introduction of Russian-made electric transport. 

The batteries and cells would also be applied in fixed storage to help in grid stabilization. 

Rosatom says its partnership with the Korean manufacturer is a part of its strategic development of non-nuclear businesses. Energy storage is an end-to-end technology in Rosatom’s portfolio of new businesses, which makes it possible to create high-tech products that are in demand in the new technological paradigm, the firm adds.