“The collaboration with Glencore and Talon on this study establishes a clear pathway towards the subsequent execution of the battery materials ark project,” Michael Insulan, Electra’s vice president of commercial operations, said in a joint statement.

“With Glencore being a global powerhouse in the battery materials sector, it positions it to potentially supply immediate raw material feed to the proposed nickel sulfate plant, while Talon’s nearby Tamarack project is strategically positioned to be one of the largest nickel suppliers in the western hemisphere.”

The joint study will analyze the engineering requirements, permitting, socio-economic impacts, and costs associated with building new facilities. Results are anticipated by the end of the year.

Electra plans to commission its 5,000 mt/year cobalt refinery in Ontario this year, then will seek to add on-site battery recycling operations. The nickel sulfate processing and precursor production study is the next part of the vision to develop an integrated battery materials park concept at the complex to supply the electric vehicle market, the company said.

North America currently has zero cobalt, nickel sulfate, or cathode precursor production.

Electra CEO Trent Mell added that domestic sourcing of raw material and usage of hydroelectric power, and being close to relevant end markets will support the company’s production of low-carbon nickel sulfate.

“The nickel supply chain, especially the very high carbon footprint of producing battery-grade nickel from nickel laterite deposits, has not been closely scrutinized, but that is beginning to change,” Mell said. “The low-carbon North American alternative that we are proposing is far more aligned with moving toward zero-emission vehicles to curb global greenhouse gases.”

Glencore produces nickel concentrate at its Sudbury Basin mining complex in Ontario, and Minnesota-based Talon Metals is working to develop its Tamarack nickel-copper-cobalt project with Rio Tinto as a partner through the joint venture.