MOSES LAKE - The BMW/SGL manufacturing plant in Moses Lake is set to expand again.

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers recently submitted a building permit application to the City of Moses Lake for a new 116,000 square-foot building, which will be used for carbon fiber manufacturing.

The construction of the building is estimated to cost a little over $28 million, according to city documents.

The new structure will be the plant's third production building.

The plant began producing carbon fiber for BMW's line of electric cars in 2011. Construction on the plant's second building began last year, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald article. Company officials at the time said the second building was a strategic expansion to make sure the plant would be able to meet any rising demand from BMW for more carbon fiber.

BMW unveiled its new i3 electric car in 2013. The i3 will be made with carbon fiber manufactured in Moses Lake and assembled in Leipzig, Germany.

With two production lines in the first building, the Moses Lake plant had the ability to produce 3,000 metric tons of carbon fiber each year. The addition of two new lines in a second building essentially doubled the plant's production capacity.

Company officials were not able to comment on the construction of the third building at press time.