BEULAH, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — A signing ceremony was held to celebrate Talon Metals securing a site for its proposed Beulah Minerals Processing Facility.
It’s on the former Westmoreland Mining coal mine near Beulah, an hour northwest of Bismarck.
The facility will process high-grade nickel and copper ore from the Tamarack mine in Minnesota and other sources to produce minerals for batteries.
The project investment is $365 million which includes a $115 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
It is expected to create up to 150 jobs.
Sen. John Hoeven says the plant will help reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, including from adversaries such as China and Russia.
“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,” said Hoeven.
“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.”
“You could not over exaggerate the significance of today, or the significance of what’s about to happen at the Westmoreland site,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer. “Its contribution to economic opportunity will be significant to national security, global security, and domestic supply chain development. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.”
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