An explosion at a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) factory owned by a subsidiary of battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has injured 12 people in Qujing city in southwest China’s Yunnan province
The explosion was caused by low temperatures and equipment issues, which raised the pressure of an exhaust tower and led to a valve failure, reported news outlet Argus Media.
The incident at material producer Qujing Lintie, a majority-owned subsidiary of Chinese lithium-ion battery material producer Shenzhen Dynanonic — a subsidiary of CATL— happened on 20 January.
The explosion will not significantly impact the company’s production and operation, according to a company statement seen by Argus Media.
The factory is running a 10,000 t/yr LFP battery material production line on a trial basis, and is also building another 10,000 t/yr line.
Founded in 2018, Qujing Lintie has focused on developing lithium iron phosphate material. It is 40% owned byCATL, while Shenzhen Dynanonic owns the rest of the shares.
Earlier this month, an explosion killed one person and injured 19 at a 120,000 tonne capacity plant in the Hunan Province run by Brunp Recycling Technology, a unit of Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology, which in turn is a subsidiary of CATL.