Former coal mine to become nickel processing site

A former coal mine near Beulah, North Dakota, will be converted into a nickel processing facility, pending regulatory approval, according to a report by the North Dakota Monitor. Talon Metals announced Wednesday that it plans to process ore from a mine near Tamarack, Minnesota, at the new Beulah Minerals Processing Facility starting in 2028. The project is expected to bring 150 jobs to the area.

Talon Metals President Mike Kicis said Tesla has contracted to buy about half of the processed nickel, and the Department of Defense is another potential customer. The $365 million project is supported by a nearly $115 million Department of Energy grant announced in 2022. While welcomed by local leaders, the project faces opposition from some Native American and environmental groups in Minnesota concerned about potential pollution, according to the North Dakota Monitor.