Tesla To Open Gulf Coast Lithium Plant Sooner Than Expected

A $365 million lithium refinery being planned for the Corpus Christi area was originally expected by Tesla to be completed next year with production to follow in 2025. Tesla now plans to commission the assets in the first half of 2024 and ramp up during the second half of the year.

The goal of the new plant is to produce lithium hydroxide to support Tesla’s own battery cell production at Gigafactory Texas in Austin.

Electrek reports that a spokesman said he could see Tesla expanding beyond its original plan with the refinery on the coast. They have property that is well-suited for a future expansion beyond the first two trains. There is ample opportunity for further economic impact beyond just those direct employees who were hired. The original plans called for employing about 165 people full-time plus another 250 construction jobs for about two years.