Blue Whale Materials to receive $55M to expand lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Oklahoma
Blue Whale Materials (BWM) is in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to receive $55 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Program. The company, which specializes in lithium-ion battery recycling and is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, plans to use the money to aid its expansion plans for its facility in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. BWM will invest $110 million into the project, allowing the plant to process up to 50,000 tons of battery feedstock annually and produce enough valuable critical minerals to power over 100,000 electric vehicles annually. According to the company, by expanding operations, BWM will be able to convert 3.5 times more end-of-life batteries and production scrap into Blacksand, a high-purity, dry, mixed-metal precursor that stands apart from conventional black mass. The project is expected to generate 150 new jobs for the surrounding area.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, BWM CEO Robert Kang said, “The DOE’s backing underscores the importance of building a sustainable and resilient supply chain for critical minerals right here in the U.S.. This expansion not only supports our mission but also fuels economic growth in Bartlesville, a historic energy community.”
Reese Goldsmith, Head of Government Affairs for Ara Partners, added, “This selection for award by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains is further validation of BWM’s pioneering battery recycling process, and Ara Partners is proud to have partnered with Blue Whale Materials to submit the proposal for award. Government partnerships are essential to decarbonize the industrial economy and increase U.S. manufacturing capabilities.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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