AESC pauses construction of South Carolina facility, cites ‘market uncertainty’

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — AESC, a Japanese battery technology company, has paused construction of its Florence facility, according to a news release sent Thursday.

Officials with the company cited “policy and market uncertainty.”

“AESC has informed the state of South Carolina and our local partners that due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time,” the release reads. “AESC has invested over $1 billion into the Florence facility, and we anticipate being able to resume construction once circumstances stabilize. AESC fully intends to meet our commitments to invest $1.6 billion and create 1,600 jobs in the coming years.”

AESC broke ground on the plant in 2023. Officials originally planned for it to be open by 2026.