Central ND News

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and Talon Metals have announced the development of the Beulah Minerals Processing Facility (BMPF) at a former Westmoreland Mining site in Beulah, North Dakota. This facility is set to become a leading center for nickel and copper processing.

The BMPF will process nickel ore from a Talon mine in Minnesota alongside fly ash byproducts from Mercer County's coal-fired power stations. The processed nickel concentrate will be used in electric vehicle (EV) battery cathodes, while fly ash will aid in neutralizing and hardening tailings. Tesla is expected to utilize the nickel concentrate and other byproducts like cobalt and iron for its EV batteries.

Senator Cramer, who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Armed Services Committees, spoke at the signing ceremony in Beulah. He stated, “You could not over exaggerate the significance of today, or the significance of what's about to happen at the Westmoreland site,” adding that it would significantly contribute to economic opportunity, national security, global security, and domestic supply chain development.

In 2023, Talon Metals received nearly $115 million from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for this project. Talon will also provide nearly $320 million as recipient cost share. Additionally, workforce training initiatives are planned for Mercer County with employment opportunities extended to nearby communities and tribal members. The U.S. Department of Defense has also contributed over $20 million through Defense Production Act funding to support domestic nickel exploration and development.

Senator Cramer has been an advocate for domestic critical minerals production due to superior American labor standards and environmental practices. He emphasized reducing dependency on countries like China by strategically decoupling supply chains. Alongside U.S. Senator Tina Smith, he co-led a bipartisan letter expressing concerns about a potential critical mineral free trade agreement with Indonesia regarding nickel procurement.

In 2022, Cramer supported Talon's application through a letter addressed to then-DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm.