BARTLESVILLE, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Blue Whale Materials (BWM), a leader in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling and critical minerals supply chain development, is today, hosting a Beam Signing Ceremony to celebrate the start of a major expansion at its Bartlesville, Oklahoma facility.
U.S. Senator James Lankford, along with members of Oklahoma’s federal and state leadership, the Bartlesville and Tulsa business communities, and Blue Whale Materials executives and stakeholders, commemorated the next phase of the company’s U.S. growth strategy.
The expansion follows the commissioning of Blue Whale’s baseline black mass plant in August 2025, which established capacity to process up to 14,000 tons per year of battery manufacturing scrap into Blacksand™—Blue Whale’s proprietary, high-purity black mass containing cobalt, nickel, and lithium. With the need for domestic critical minerals, BWM’s Blacksand™ product is in high demand from refiners, material manufacturers, and OEMs in the battery supply chain.
Blue Whale Materials received a $55 million U.S. Department of Energy grant in January 2025, which will increase annual processing capacity to more than 20,000 tons by Q1 2026 and ultimately up to 50,000 tons per year as part of a four-year expansion plan.
The expanded facility will include additional processing lines, an enhanced testing and grading center for end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and upgraded logistics and safety infrastructure. When complete, the project will add more than 150 high-quality jobs in Bartlesville and establish one of the largest pre-processing operations for lithium-ion batteries in North America.
“Blue Whale Materials’ expansion in Bartlesville represents the kind of innovation and investment that strengthens both Oklahoma’s economy and manufacturing base and America’s energy security,” said U.S. Senator of Oklahoma Senator James Lankford. “This project reinforces domestic competitiveness by giving US suppliers a seat at the table and reducing dependence on adversaries for critical minerals.”
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma expressed, “Oklahoma is the best state for business and the best state for critical mineral development. I’m proud Blue Whale chose to build here in Oklahoma and is choosing to expand its operations in our state. This is great for Oklahoma’s economy, bringing jobs and investment, and it is great for our nation’s security.”
“Today’s beam signing is a symbol of continued momentum,” said Robert Kang, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Whale Materials. “Our Bartlesville facility is already producing high-quality Blacksand™, and this expansion demonstrates both the strength of our technology and the national importance of our mission.”
David Fauvre, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, added, “This milestone builds on the foundation we laid at commissioning. The expansion will enable us to serve more partners, increase recovery volumes, and accelerate the circular supply chain for lithium-ion batteries.”
Cory Steffek, Partner at Ara Partners, noted, “Ara Partners is proud to support Blue Whale Materials’ expansion in Bartlesville, which represents a major step forward for the domestic critical minerals supply chain. We’re proud of what the team has been able to accomplish thus far, and we’re eager to see how their continued growth will strengthen American resilience for the future.”
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Key Project Milestones & Strategic Outlook |
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Milestone |
Detail |
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Beam Signing Ceremony |
November 10 event marking start of expansion construction. |
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Baseline Commissioning (August 2025) |
14,000 tons/year black mass line producing Blacksand™ commissioned. |
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Expansion Target |
Next-phase capacity > 20,000 tons/year; full expansion to 50,000 tons/year over four years. |
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Jobs & Impact |
+150 jobs; major boost to U.S. circular-supply-chain resilience. |
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About Blue Whale Materials
Blue Whale Materials is an industry-leading battery-recycling company focused on closing the loop in the lithium-ion battery ecosystem. With proprietary technology, BWM converts spent cells, modules, packs, and production scrap into high-grade Blacksand™—a premium black mass optimized for efficient refining and reuse in new battery production. Its Bartlesville, Oklahoma facility serves as the cornerstone of its rapidly expanding domestic strategy. Learn more at bluewhalematerials.com. Blue Whale Materials is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity and infrastructure firm focused on next-generation industrial businesses.
Contacts
Elizabeth Norton Green
Brunswick Group
(202) 290-6408
