en.Wedoany.com Reported - A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material manufacturing facility will be built in Hooks, Texas, with an initial annual capacity of 15,000 tons. The project is a collaboration between Wildcat Discovery Technologies (a subsidiary of Holyvolt Group) and Energy Exploration Technologies (EnergyX), located adjacent to EnergyX's "Lone Star Project" lithium plant and the Red River Army Depot.
The total investment for the plant is expected to exceed $230 million, with private sector partners covering the majority of the funding. The project is situated on a 330-acre site within the TexAmericas Centre industrial park, which offers rail access and utility infrastructure. The LFP cathode materials produced at the plant can be used in energy storage systems, electric vehicles, military equipment, drones, and advanced energy technologies. Federal Department of Energy funding has not yet been confirmed, but EnergyX stated that such funding would help accelerate the plant's construction timeline.
It is estimated that the project will directly create approximately 150 permanent jobs, along with an additional 800 to 1,200 construction and indirect employment opportunities. Wildcat CEO Mark Gresser noted that LFP cathode materials are critical for energy storage, defense electrification, and affordable electric mobility, yet the U.S. remains heavily reliant on imports. The partnership aims to close this supply gap by combining Wildcat's cathode material technology and high-throughput development platform with EnergyX's domestic lithium supply strategy and Texas project footprint.
According to the collaboration terms, EnergyX is expected to supply most or all of the required lithium carbonate for the joint venture, with price caps and floors as well as a discount mechanism relative to market prices. This arrangement is intended to reduce exposure to lithium price volatility, a challenge faced by many LFP producers. Additionally, EnergyX holds lithium extraction rights on approximately 50,000 acres of land, located beneath the planned cathode plant and the adjacent Lone Star lithium facility.
EnergyX founder and CEO Teague Egan expressed excitement about partnering with Wildcat to build one of the largest cathode plants in the U.S. He believes that, combined with EnergyX's global lithium technology and production platform—including the Lone Star Project lithium plant in Texas—this cathode facility represents a significant step toward the larger vision of "Battery Mecca." Wildcat and EnergyX currently have demonstration-scale production capacity for LFP cathode materials and lithium carbonate in San Diego and Hooks, respectively. Their product portfolios cover a range of energy storage and battery technologies, with potential future expansion into cobalt-free and nickel-free cathodes, lithium metal anodes, and lithium isotopes for nuclear applications.
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