First lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant opens in Tarlac

NEW CLARK CITY—What began as a pledge just six months ago during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Australia has swiftly become a reality. StB Giga Factory has officially opened its doors as the Philippines' first manufacturing plant for advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for residential, industrial, and utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This rapid transformation positions the Philippines as a rising force for smart and sustainable investments in Southeast Asia, marking a major leap toward a cleaner, greener future.

PH’s First LFP Battery Factory Officially Opens. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony of StB Giga Factory in New Clark City, Tarlac. He is joined by (L-R) Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, Trade Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Chairman Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, BCDA Chairman Thompson C. Lantion, StB Giga Chairman Trevor St Baker, and StB Giga Chief Executive Officer Dennis Chan Ibarra.

President Marcos Jr. celebrated this milestone, stating that while lithium-iron-phosphate technology was once considered complex, it is now accessible in the Philippines. “This promises to be a first step in all that we are hoping to do. Not only to help and create jobs for Filipinos, not only to bring a transfer of technology to the Philippines but also because we now are able to do a very solid and serious step in mitigating and adapting to climate change,” he said.

He added, “It sends this message to the world: The Philippines is now ready to innovate, to lead, to become the go-to destination for high-tech, high-impact investments.”

StB Giga Factory is expected to create around 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in engineering, technical, finance, and administrative sectors by 2030, contributing over PHP5 billion annually to the local economy. The facility’s initial production capacity is 300 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year—equivalent to 6,000 electric vehicle (EV) batteries or 60,000 home battery systems.

By 2030, StB Giga aims to reach full production capacity of 2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, producing approximately 18,000 EV batteries or 400,000 home battery systems. The factory plans to export 70% of its output to Australia, Southeast Asia, and North America, while the remaining 30% will serve the domestic market.

Making Clean Energy Happen in the Philippines. Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Evariste M. Cagatan attended the historical inauguration joining Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, StB Giga Chairman Trevor St Baker, St Baker Energy Innovation Fund (StBEIF) Director Stephen St Baker, and StB Giga Chief Executive Officer Dennis Chan Ibarra. In July 2023, the BOI witnessed the signing ceremony between StBEIF and FCGC Corporation to establish StB Giga Factory at the Filinvest Innovation Park, New Clark City.

This state-of-the-art facility not only accelerates the Philippines' transition to a low-carbon economy but also reinforces the country’s emergence as the regional hub for smart and sustainable industries in Southeast Asia. By supplying high-performance batteries to both local and international residential and industrial clients, the facility strengthens the Philippines' role in the global RE market in providing creative solutions to optimally store and use renewable energy.

StB Giga shared its plans to enter the EV market in the coming years, aligning with the government’s strategy to develop a robust EV industry and promote the production of locally-made EVs and components, ultimately reducing the country's dependence on imported fuels.

With that, the long-term vision of StB Giga complements BOI's ongoing engagement with mineral processing companies from South Korea, Japan, China, and France, aimed at enhancing the country's green metals ecosystem and supporting the production of precursor battery materials critical for renewable energy and EV technologies.

StB Giga is a joint venture between StB Capital and Oli Power, leaders in the Asia-Pacific energy transition.   The first locator in the Filinvest Innovation Park within the BCDA-managed 9,450-hectare New Clark City in Tarlac, StB Giga assembles cost-competitive battery modules and complete storage products, prioritizing high-quality standards and minimizing waste through efficient processes.

In July 2023, the BOI witnessed the contract signing between the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund and FCGC Corporation, which set the stage for the establishment of the lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant within the Filinvest Innovation Park in New Clark City.

The project was implemented following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2024 during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, exemplifying commitment of both the Philippine and Australian Governments to fostering sustainable development and technological advancement. It is a demonstration of the power of public-private partnerships in driving meaningful and sustainable change.