Talon Metals Secures DoD Contract to Develop Sustainable Nickel Extraction Methods

Talon Metals has been awarded a \$2.47 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to advance research and development of novel techniques for extracting minerals from nickel sulphide ores and tailings. The 15-month initiative will focus on Talon’s Tamarack project, which includes an underground nickel-copper mine in Minnesota and a battery mineral processing facility in North Dakota, both in early permitting stages.

The contract, funded through the Defense Logistics Agency, aims to evaluate the feasibility of cutting-edge technologies such as:

• Bipolar membrane electrodialysis from Argonne National Laboratory for recycling sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide.
• Hydrometallurgical precipitation for co-products through neutralization of leachates.
• Reductive leach technology with electrochemical reagent regeneration from Columbia Electrochemical Energy Center.

These innovations aim to recover more nickel lost during traditional flotation processes, producing high-purity materials for battery cathode active material (CAM) and high-quality iron for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery CAM. Additionally, co-products such as supplementary cementitious material and magnesium carbonate will be explored to reduce waste and increase the value of extracted ore.

“This funding enhances the United States’ ability to responsibly and sustainably extract nickel from its own resources through approaches that yield high recovery rates and minimize waste,” said Henri van Rooyen, CEO of Talon Metals. He also highlighted the strategic need to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled nickel supply chains, noting that over half the global supply is produced by Sino-Indonesian firms funded by Chinese state banks.

Talon’s Tamarack project is being developed in partnership with Rio Tinto and could begin production as early as 2028, pending environmental approvals. The proposed North Dakota processing facility will relocate tailings management from Minnesota, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which awarded Talon \$114.8 million.

This project represents a broader effort to bolster domestic critical mineral supply chains amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Recent Chinese export restrictions on critical minerals, including gallium and germanium, underscore the importance of diversifying sources for materials essential to advanced technologies like semiconductors and electric vehicles.

By leveraging these advanced methods, Talon Metals aims to establish itself as a leader in sustainable nickel extraction, supporting the U.S. battery supply chain and addressing national security challenges.