Submitted Photo Sen. Kevin Cramer, right, speaks at an event held to celebrate the signing of an agreement that secured a site for Talon Metals’ minerals processing facility at Beulah. At far left is Sen. John Hoeven and Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center.

BEULAH – North Dakota’s congressional delegation and governor joined Talon Metals leadership Wednesday to celebrate securing a former mining site where the company will develop its Beulah Minerals Processing Facility (BMPF). This facility is slated to be the world’s most advanced nickel and copper minerals processing facility.

The BMPF will process nickel and copper, utilizing nickel ore from a Talon mine in Minnesota and the fly ash byproduct of Mercer County coal-fired power stations. The nickel concentrate processed at the Beulah facility will be used in cathodes for EV batteries, and the fly ash will help chemically neutralize and harden the tailings, according to a news release from Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND. The nickel concentrate and other byproducts, including cobalt and iron, from the Beulah facility will be used by Tesla for its EV batteries.

Talon signed an agreement with Westmoreland Mining to acquire about 256 acres and a 7-mile rail spur from the former Beulah Mint, following a 3-month diligence period, according to information from Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND.

The company expects the project to bring an investment of up to $365 million to the region and directly create up to 150 jobs.

“The Beulah Minerals Processing Facility is a game-changer for both North Dakota and the nation. By establishing a domestic supply chain for critical minerals, we are strengthening America’s economic and national security, while creating good-paying jobs right here in Mercer County,” Hoeven said in a news release. “We worked with the Department of Energy to secure nearly $115 million to help move Talon’s project forward, reducing our reliance on China for these increasingly important minerals and positioning the U.S. as a leader in critical mineral processing.”

The plant operations will be further supported by a $2.5 million award to Talon for researching methods for enhanced recovery of nickel. Hoeven worked to secure the funding through the Department of Defense Defense Logistics Agency.

“By processing domestically sourced nickel and copper for batteries right here in North Dakota, we will strengthen the U.S. supply chain, reduce our reliance on foreign sources and enhance our economic and national security,” Gov. Kelly Armstrong said. “We commend Talon for working with Westmoreland to secure a site with existing infrastructure and appreciate the efforts of local leaders, our congressional delegation and the North Dakota Department of Commerce for their instrumental role in the site selection process that landed the project in Beulah.”

The company also is exploring using fly ash to create a value-added cement replacement product that would reduce the amount of waste stored at the site, Hoeven said.

Talon announced plans for the facility in Mercer County in October 2022.