LS GreenLink Commences Development of Advanced Manufacturing and Port Facility in Chesapeake, Virginia

CHESAPEAKE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 29, 2025--

LS GreenLink USA, Inc. ("LS GreenLink"), a subsidiary of LS Cable & System Ltd. (“LS Cable & System”), today officially commenced construction on its state-of-the-art manufacturing and port facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. This significant project represents a major advancement in bolstering global energy infrastructure, with the initial phase representing an investment exceeding $681 million and the creation of more than 330 new jobs in the region.

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The initial phase of the development will encompass a 750,000 sq. ft. advanced manufacturing plant, a 660-foot VCV (Vertical Continuous Vulcanization) tower, and a dedicated pier, all designed to enhance the production, handling, and global delivery of HVDC (high-voltage direct current) submarine cables critical to modern energy infrastructure. The 660-foot VCV tower is projected to be the tallest structure in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the tallest structure between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Charlotte, North Carolina, underscoring the facility’s significant contribution to the regional skyline.

Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO of LS Cable & System, said, “This groundbreaking marks a monumental step forward for LS Cable & System in fulfilling our global vision for energy infrastructure. By investing in cutting-edge manufacturing facilities like the one in Chesapeake, Virginia, we not only strengthen our competitive position in the global market but also play a crucial role in providing innovative solutions to meet the world’s growing energy demands. The success of this project will enhance our global footprint and contribute significantly to the advancement of sustainable energy systems worldwide.”

Gisu Kim, Regional President of North America at LS Cable & System, emphasized the significance of the new facility, stating, “The development of this advanced manufacturing facility highlights LS Cable & System’s continued commitment to the United States. This project not only strengthens our global production capabilities but also contributes directly to local economic growth and the advancement of the region’s energy infrastructure. We are proud to support the communities where we operate and look forward to the positive impact this facility will have across the broader energy sector.”

“This groundbreaking event represents far more than the launch of a construction project - it marks the start of a long-term investment in innovation, sustainability, and energy resilience,” said Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director of LS GreenLink USA, Inc. “With this facility, LS GreenLink is laying the foundation for leadership in advanced manufacturing while reinforcing the global energy infrastructure that powers industries and communities worldwide.”

Virginia GovernorGlenn Youngkin remarked, “The commencement of this facility in Chesapeake is a proud moment for Virginia. This investment strengthens our leadership in innovation, energy, and manufacturing while creating hundreds of new jobs. LS GreenLink’s commitment to developing advanced energy infrastructure here exemplifies the innovative and impactful growth we are seeing across the Commonwealth.”

U.S. Senator Mark Warner stated, “I’ve been proud to support this project, and am thrilled to finally celebrate the groundbreaking of this manufacturing and port facility. This investment by LS GreenLink will be tremendous for Chesapeake, and for Virginia as a whole, bringing high-quality, good-paying jobs to the region while continuing the Commonwealth’s leadership in energy investment and infrastructure.”

“I’m thrilled to be breaking ground with LS GreenLink on its Hampton Roads cable manufacturing and pier facility, and I’m proud that this project was facilitated by tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act that I fought to pass,” said U.S. Senator Kaine. “This facility will create hundreds of high-quality, good-paying jobs, boost the region’s economy, and affirm Virginia’s global status as a clean energy hub.”

U.S. Representative Bobby Scott shared, “I am proud to welcome LS GreenLink to Virginia’s Third Congressional District. Hampton Roads is a leader in offshore wind production and this subsea cable facility is an important piece of the domestic offshore wind supply chain. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, LS GreenLink is utilizing tax credits for projects that expand clean energy. The manufacturing tax credits, which I spearheaded with my colleagues, are bringing high-paying jobs to our local economy and I look forward to seeing the completed facility.”

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents not just a significant investment in the City of Chesapeake but also for the Hampton Roads community,” said Chesapeake City Mayor Rick West. “This investment represents a huge step for the region’s clean energy and offshore wind industries. LS GreenLink’s decision to locate in Chesapeake proves the City’s and region’s commitment to clean, renewable energy. We look forward to future investment from LS and a continued partnership with South Korea.”

Doug Smith, President & CEO of Hampton Roads Alliance, commented, “The Hampton Roads region has long been recognized for its strong maritime and manufacturing capabilities. This significant investment from LS GreenLink in Virginia not only enhances our regional economy but further establishes Hampton Roads as a hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing in the energy sector. We are excited to support LS GreenLink in this endeavor.”

Finally, David White, Executive Director of Virginia Maritime Association, added, “The development of this advanced manufacturing facility in Chesapeake aligns with the strategic growth of Virginia’s maritime industry. This project will provide critical infrastructure for the global energy supply chain while creating high-quality jobs in the region. We are proud to be part of this exciting development and look forward to its future success.”

The initial phase is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027, with the facility fully operational by the first quarter of 2028. Subsequent phases of the project are planned, allowing LS GreenLink to expand its production capacity and technological capabilities in response to evolving global infrastructure requirements.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together executives from LS GreenLink, elected officials, industry partners, and local community leaders, all of whom expressed their support for the project’s positive economic and strategic impact on the region.

About LS Cable & System Ltd.

Founded in 1962, LS Cable & System Ltd. is a global leader in power and communication cables and systems. With over 6,500 employees and 35 subsidiaries in 17 countries, LS Cable & System continues to drive innovation in energy transmission and distribution. For more information, visit www.lscns.com.

Senator Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator

Mayor Rick West, City of Chesapeake (right) with Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd. (center) and Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc. (left)

Governor Glenn Youngkin (right) with Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd. (center) and Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc. (left)

(From left to right) David White, Executive Director, Virginia Maritime Association; Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc.; Doug Smith, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Alliance; Rick West, Mayor, City of Chesapeake; Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd.; Glenn Youngkin, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia; Juan Pablo Segura, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia; Gunnar Spengel, Project Director, TenneT TSO GmbH; Gisu Kim, Regional President of North America, LS Cable & System Ltd.; Christopher Price, City Manager, City of Chesapeake

AL HENAKIYAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Ricky Brabec deliberately gave up his motorbike lead over Luciano Benavides in the Dakar Rally while Nasser Al-Attiyah was happy to cruise through another day closer to his sixth car title on Thursday.

Al-Attiyah started 346-kilometer stage 11 between Bisha north to Al Henakiyah with a 12-minute overall lead and let it drop to less than nine minutes over new second-placed driver Nani Roma in a Ford.

Al-Attiyah was content to let Dacia teammate Sébastien Loeb catch up and pass him to have a teammate nearby for any help and to minimize errors on the mazy, dirt track. Al-Attiyah was 17th, nearly 13 minutes behind stage winner Mattias Ekström, and said he needed to execute the same plan on Friday's last effective racing stage before the end on Saturday.

“If we lose two, three, four minutes no problem,” Al-Attiyah said. “We just need to finish this Dakar in first place.”

Honda cooked up a strategy in the Saudi desert for Adrien van Beveren to open the way and let Brabec catch up after the 190-kilometer pit stop and pick up time bonuses.

Brabec boosted his overall lead from 56 seconds to nearly four minutes just 25 kilometers from the finish. He was also within a minute of the stage lead but he slowed down so KTM rival Benavides was the new overall leader, but only by 23 seconds.

Brabec got his his wish to start Friday's stage 12 six minutes behind Benavides, so he can eye him. They head west to the rally starting point of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast on 311 kilometers of gravel, some river beds with a finish in the dunes.

“A little bit of strategy today and hopefully it pays off tomorrow,” Brabec said. "I feel like its going to be a good day. We’re going back into the rocks so it will be a little bit better for us.”

Brabec is counting on his experience of winning the Dakar in 2020 and 2024 to trump Benavides, who has a best placing of fourth last year.

“I've been in this situation before,” Brabec said. “For the whole two weeks I've been just trying to stay relax, stay comfortable and just be confident, so two days more. I'm gonna do the same thing tomorrow that I've been doing every day; ride dirt bikes and have fun.”

Van Beveren helped Brabec with navigation while fighting with another teammate, Skyler Howes, the entire day for the stage win.

Howes prevailed by 21 seconds for his first career major stage in his eighth Dakar. He was third in 2023 and sixth last year. He's running fifth, 34 minutes off the pace.

Benavides was fourth in the stage and believed the race will be decided on the final 105-kilometer sprint on Saturday.

“I played no strategy like Ricky. I don't care,” Benavides said. “I'm doing what I can to control what I can control.”

Ekström won his third car stage of this Dakar, a special so fast that 12 other drivers were within 10 minutes.

Ford achieved another 1-2-3 stage. Romain Dumas, a three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, was a career-best second just over a minute back and Carlos Sainz was third.

Only Toyota's Henk Lategan beat Ekström to a checkpoint but Lategan's podium hopes were wrecked after 140 kilometers when a bearing broke on his rear left wheel. Lategan was second last year and second overall overnight but he plunged out of the top 15, at least.

Loeb moved up to third overall, 10 minutes behind Roma and three minutes ahead of Ekström.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Rider Daniel Sanders competes during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Fabian Lurquin compete during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rider Skyler Howes competes during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Henk Lategan, left, and co-driver Brett Cummings repair their car during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro compete during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)