WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $114,846,344 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to Talon Nickel (USA) LLC for the construction of a battery minerals processing facility in Mercer County, North Dakota. This facility will process Minnesota-sourced nickel ore for the expansion of domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the electrical grid.

According to Talon, the nickel mine will utilize the BNSF railroad to deliver nickel ore to its processing facility near Beulah, North Dakota. The facility will produce nickel concentrate to be used in cathodes for electric vehicle batteries. Talon has a supply agreement with Tesla to provide 75,000 metric tonnes of nickel concentrate and other by-products, including cobalt and iron. Talon will use coal ash from Mercer County coal fired power stations to help chemically neutralize and harden the tailings from the process.

“The need for critical minerals grows every day and we need to take every opportunity to access, produce, and process these materials within our own borders,” said Senator Cramer. “Talon Metals’ efforts in North Dakota and Minnesota will help reduce our dependence on foreign minerals from adversaries and countries with lax environmental and labor standards. This investment brings us closer to the domestic production of the critical minerals we need. I look forward to seeing the project’s completion and the benefits it will bring to North Dakota, Minnesota, and tribal nations.”

In addition to the nearly $115 million grant from the DOE, the company will provide a recipient cost share of nearly $320 million. The project plans to conduct workforce training in Mercer County and offer employment opportunities to nearby coal communities and tribal members.

Background:

On October 25, 2023, Senator Cramer co-led a bipartisan letter with U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) expressing concerns regarding a potential critical mineral free trade agreement with Indonesia for the procurement of nickel.

On August 17, 2022, Senator Cramer wrote a letter of support on behalf of Talon Nickel (USA) LLC’s application to DOE Secretary Granholm.