A gigafactory is set to be built on Vancouver Island, as a result of a partnership between Malahat First Nation and Energy Plug.
Plans are to build a 100,000-square-foot battery assembly and research facility at the nation’s Malahat Business Park, a 52-acre industrial park in Mill Bay, roughly 40 kilometres north of Victoria.
Energy Plug explains that these are not electric vehicle packs—they are for storage so that users have a backup system for the grid.
Broderick Gunning is the CEO and president of Energy Plug, which assembles lithium iron phosphate battery packs.
“We were looking for a long-term partnership with an understanding of our vision of renewable technology,” says Gunning.
Energy Plug spent much of 2023 searching across Canada for a partner in the factory.
The criteria that Malahat met included having access to electricity in a free trade zone, sitting at tidewater and being in a location where goods can be shipped, handled, manufactured, reconfigured and re-exported without the involvement of customs agencies.
The Malahat First Nation’s director of economic development, Tristan Gale, notes negotiations haven’t concluded for the project.
Gale says with 11 kilometres of waterfront, the Malahat First Nation is in charge of one of the few deep-sea ports on the West Coast that isn’t booked up. They are also in control of zoning, permitting and taxation on their lands.
The Nation says the Indigenous-led partnership is not only focused on Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries but also aims to work with other cutting-edge technologies such as Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, Sodium-ion, and Solid State Batteries.
In the agreement, Malahat First Nation would have 51% ownership, and would be responsible for building the facility. Energy Plug says they would provide leadership, sales, partnerships and finance creation of the internal systems, which include offices, engineering, robotics, research and development.
The assembly will be done with battery cells that arrive from Asian countries like China and Korea. The cells will be assembled into five to 100-kilowatt packs, Gunning says.
Building plans include a two-storey, solar-powered facility with offices and labs on both or on a mezzanine level. Three to five fully automated assembly lines are also being considered.
The number of employees needed and the cost of the facility has not been determined.
“The establishment of Canada's first Indigenous-led gigafactory in Malahat Nation marks a significant step towards sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship,” says Malahat First Nation.
“This pioneering initiative not only strengthens Indigenous businesses but also sets a precedent for collaborative efforts in creating a greener, more resilient future.”
