Blue Whale Materials Secures $55 Million DOE Grant to Expand Battery Recycling Operations

Blue Whale Materials (BWM), a leader in lithium-ion battery recycling, has been awarded a $55 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. The funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Program, will support BWM’s $110 million expansion of its Bartlesville, Oklahoma facility.

The expansion is set to significantly scale up operations, enabling BWM to process up to 50,000 tons of battery feedstock annually. This capacity will yield critical minerals sufficient to power over 100,000 electric vehicles each year. The project is also expected to create 150 permanent positions and 180 construction jobs, providing a major economic boost to the Bartlesville community.

As part of the grant, $3 million will fund workforce development and community outreach initiatives in collaboration with the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Blue Star Recyclers, Tri County Tech, and James Emmett and Company. These partnerships aim to strengthen local employment opportunities and enhance community engagement.

BWM’s expansion focuses on producing Blacksand™, a high-purity, dry, mixed-metal precursor distinct from conventional black mass. The company’s advanced recycling process recovers up to 98% of cobalt and nickel from lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap, while significantly reducing contaminants like aluminum, copper, and fluorine. This results in a cleaner, high-value material for downstream refiners and battery manufacturers.

“We’re thrilled to have the U.S. DOE’s support,” said BWM CEO Robert Kang. “This award validates our pioneering battery recycling process and advances our mission to build a sustainable and resilient domestic supply chain for critical minerals. Our expansion in Bartlesville will drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and invest in a historic energy community.”

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt praised the initiative, stating, “As the need for critical minerals grows, securing this supply chain is essential. Blue Whale’s growth in Oklahoma supports our commitment to self-sufficiency in critical materials and brings quality jobs and investment to our state.”

Backed by Ara Partners, a global private equity firm focused on decarbonizing the industrial economy, BWM’s expansion reinforces its position as a leading supplier of critical minerals for electric vehicles, battery producers, and energy storage industries. The project marks a significant step toward creating a sustainable, closed-loop solution for lithium-ion battery recycling.