Alus, a Korean aluminum specialist, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with US-based lithium-ion battery recycling company Blue Whale Materials (BWM) to strengthen the domestic battery materials supply chain.
This partnership facilitates Alus’s entry into the US market while expanding BWM’s production capacity for high-grade recycled black mass containing critical minerals like cobalt, nickel, and lithium.
The agreement, signed during Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s recent trade mission to South Korea, highlights a collaborative effort to enhance the US battery ecosystem. Alus’s investment will support BWM’s expansion in Oklahoma, where BWM recently secured a US Department of Energy grant to scale its recycling operations.
BWM uses proprietary technology to process spent batteries into high-concentration black mass, containing critical minerals essential for battery production. Its inaugural processing facility in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is set to begin operations in 2025, further strengthening the US battery value chain.
Through this LOI, Alus plans to invest in BWM and enter the US battery recycling market. Aluminum, a key material for electric vehicle battery packs, will be sourced from BWM’s recycled output to establish a circular economy for battery manufacturing in America.
This collaboration highlights the strategic importance of securing critical minerals while fostering sustainability and growth in the domestic battery industry.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News