AESC says it remains committed to its planned battery manufacturing plant in Florence County, despite a lengthy construction pause and continued uncertainty over when work will resume.
The Japanese manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells halted construction in June 2025 when the facility was roughly 75 percent complete and about $1.2 billion had been invested. When work is completed, the $1.6 billion project is expected to create 1,600 jobs.
AESC spokesperson Raj Shah told Florence County in an email the company remains committed to the project, but no timeline for restarting construction has been announced.
Florence County economic development officials say AESC is evaluating financing considerations and options to re-engage the facility.
“We remain confident in the long-term potential this project represents for Florence County and the Pee Dee Region,” said Gregg Robinson, CEO of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership.
“Our commitment to positioning the county for this investment remains consistent. The ReadySC Regional Training Center is complete, and infrastructure development at the Florence Global Technology Park continues to advance,” he added. “At the same time, we remain actively engaged with other prospective companies exploring opportunities in Florence County. While the timing of AESC’s next steps remains uncertain, we are encouraged by the progress being made locally and remain optimistic about the opportunities and continued economic growth ahead in 2027.”
South Carolina has attracted $14.5 billion in announced investment across EVs, batteries, battery components, and recycling through November 2024, according to the latest data compiled by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
The industry supports an estimated 14,100 jobs statewide.
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