Blue Whale Materials to expand recycling facility in Oklahoma

The US battery recycling company Blue Whale Materials (BWM) is receiving a grant totalling 55 million dollars from the US Department of Energy to expand its lithium-ion battery plant in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

According to a press release from Blue Whale Materials, the investment will enable the company to process up to 50,000 tonnes of battery raw materials annually and produce enough valuable critical minerals for the batteries of over 100,000 electric vehicles per year.

Specifically, the grant is expected to create 150 permanent jobs and 180 construction jobs in Bartlesville, while about $3 million of the grant will go towards workforce development and community outreach through expanded partnership programs with The Delaware Tribe of Indians, Blue Star Recyclers, Tri County Tech, and James Emmett and Company.

Blue Whale Materials’ recycling process is capable of recovering up to “98% of the cobalt and nickel in lithium-ion batteries and production scrap and significantly reduces contaminants such as aluminum, copper, and fluorine – resulting in a high metal recovery rate and creating an optimized input for downstream metal refiners and battery material manufacturers.”

“We’re thrilled to have the U.S. DOE’s support, and this contracted award is further validation of BWM’s pioneering battery recycling process,” said BWM CEO Robert Kang. “This award directly supports Blue Whale’s mission of building a sustainable and resilient domestic supply chain of critical minerals. Blue Whale’s expansion in Bartlesville enables an increased high-grade black mass production capability, fueling economic growth, quality jobs, and investment in a historic energy community.”

“As the need for critical minerals grows, it is clear that we need to secure this supply chain,” added Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who recently hosted Blue Whale Materials on a trade mission to Japan and South Korea. “I’m proud Blue Whale calls Oklahoma home. Their growth in our state aligns with our focus on self-sufficiency in critical materials production and will bring quality jobs and investment to Oklahoma.”

It was only in December that the US Department of Energy made its last major battery investment, providing funding of $25 million for battery research across a number of projects. Yesterday, funding was also announced for charging and electric micromobility projects. Just before Christmas, the DOE had also set aside $144 million in funding for a battery recycling plant run by the American Battery Technology Company.

Blue Whale Materials’ plans also extend far beyond the planned factory in Oklahoma, as the company announced plans to build at least five such facilities in the United States and Europe together with investor Ara Partners. Ara invested  $80 million in BWM.

 

bluewhalematerials.com

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