Sunit Kapur is a seasoned business leader in the manufacturing sector with deep expertise in P&L management, supply chain, product development, and customer success. With extensive global and domestic experience, he brings strategic insights across diverse industries, including the automotive sector, driving operational excellence and business growth. 

In an interview for “American Aluminium Industry: The Path Forward” e-Magazine, Sunit Kapur discussed Epsilon Advanced Materials’ USD 650M North Carolina graphite anode facility, aimed at strengthening the US EV battery supply chain. He highlighted the plant’s 30,000 TPA production capacity, localising supply, reducing import dependence, and supporting EV OEMs in meeting clean energy incentives. Kapur also emphasised the integration of low-carbon technologies, circular economy practices, and workforce development to ensure sustainability and operational excellence. The facility positions Epsilon as a reliable, tariff-free supplier of high-quality anode materials for the growing US EV market.

AL Circle: Let’s begin with your landmark announcement. Epsilon Advanced Materials has made headlines with the USD 650 million graphite anode facility in North Carolina, deemed India’s first and largest investment in the US EV battery segment. Would you please give our readers a sneak peek into the project’s present status?

Sunit Kapur: We’re proud of the progress made so far. At present, we’ve secured all major pre-construction permits, including the Air Permit, making us the only synthetic graphite manufacturer in the US to hold one. We expect to break ground in Q1 2026. Simultaneously, we’re finalising equipment orders and working closely with local and state partners to ensure the project remains on track for initial operations by 2027. This facility represents more than just capacity; it’s an important step in building a resilient, localised battery materials supply chain for the US EV industry.

AL Circle: As the business scales up globally, from India to Finland to the US now, how do you feel this expansion will boost the lithium-ion battery materials supply chain, particularly the anode segment?

Sunit Kapur: Our global expansion is a strategic step toward strengthening the lithium-ion battery materials supply chain, especially in the anode segment. By localising production through our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the USA, we will significantly reduce reliance on imports, particularly from regions with uncertain supply chains like China. This not only shortens lead times but also helps automakers and battery manufacturers meet local content requirements.

We’re enhancing supply chain resilience by providing a secure and reliable source of high-quality synthetic graphite anodes to US giga factories and automotive OEMs, supporting the growing demand for EV batteries.

Our facility will also demonstrate technological leadership, incorporating our own patented technology to produce high-performance, eco-friendly active anode materials with a substantially lower carbon footprint compared to conventional methods. 

Beyond manufacturing, this project will contribute meaningfully to the local economy by creating approximately 500 jobs at full capacity and driving economic growth through employment and local sourcing. 

Finally, our operations are aligned with the highest environmental sustainability standards, utilising green technologies to uphold strong ESG principles, an increasingly important priority for customers and stakeholders in the US and globally.

AL Circle: Your plant in North Carolina is expected to produce 30,000 TPA of graphite anode by 2027. Can you walk us through the technology behind your natural and synthetic graphite production, and how EAM plans to maintain a low-carbon footprint throughout the value chain?

Sunit Kapur: Our technology combines advanced graphitisation processes with proprietary purification techniques that significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint compared to conventional methods. For synthetic and natural graphite, we use energy-efficient furnaces with optimised thermal management. Our spheroidization processes are designed to minimise waste and water usage. Across both streams, we’re integrating renewable power and implementing a closed-loop recovery system for process by-products, all with the goal of achieving among the lowest CO2 footprints in the industry.

To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the aluminium use in the EV sector, click here.