LG Energy Solution and Stellantis are edging closer to a resumption of construction of their US$5bn electric-vehicle battery module joint venture plant in Canada. It is reported that promised provincial government subsidies could be unlocked.

Last week, construction work was halted at the site in Windsor, Ontario, following a dispute between the country’s federal and provincial governments over financial aid for the project, with the Ontario provincial government said to have refused to provide the subsidies it had promised.

At the weekend Ontario premier Doug Ford said pledged money for the facility would be made available, retreating from his hard line stance of leaving it up to the federal government to allow the resumption of construction, after pressure from Ontario demanding it paid “its fair share”.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau visited South Korea last week ahead of his trip to the G7 summit in Japan, meeting with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and with LGES executives also scheduled to help get the joint venture project back on track.