LAWTON, Oklahoma, June 18 – Tucked below the scenic Wichita Mountains is a modest warehouse that may be the cornerstone of America’s next major industrial transformation. This two-story facility, run by startup Westwin Elements, houses the only machine in the United States currently capable of refining nickel — a key element in the clean energy transition. While the nation has long relied on foreign sources, especially China, for such materials, Oklahoma is positioning itself as a new epicenter for critical mineral processing.
With an ambitious vision to reclaim domestic control of essential resources, Oklahoma is not just refining nickel — it’s taking a leading role in lithium processing, battery recycling, rare earth magnet manufacturing, and more. The state’s energy legacy, strategic location, and business-friendly policies have drawn a wave of startups and established companies alike, all focused on reshaping America’s mineral supply chain.
A Surge of Energy Transition Projects
Oklahoma’s rapid rise in this high-tech industry sector is not due to vast mineral reserves beneath its soil, but rather to strategic foresight and aggressive policy incentives. Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, has been actively courting emerging industries, making a conscious effort to attract companies vital to America’s clean energy goals. “If investment is flowing into critical minerals,” Stitt said, “then that investment should flow into Oklahoma.”
Currently, Oklahoma hosts the country’s sole nickel refinery and is developing what will become the largest lithium processing facility in the nation. It also hosts two lithium-ion battery recycling facilities, a rare earth magnet plant, and several electronic waste processing operations — surpassing every other U.S. state in mineral-related infrastructure.
The allure for companies extends beyond incentives. Oklahoma offers a robust transportation network, skilled labor with a background in oil and gas, a major inland port with access to the Mississippi River system, and what business leaders call an “easy-to-navigate” regulatory environment. The term “one phone call state” has become a common tagline for how efficiently deals can be done here.
One example is MLB Industrial, an Australian firm that makes lithium-ion batteries for locomotives. CEO Nathan Leech relocated his company — and his family — to Oklahoma after being impressed by the state’s openness to supporting growing businesses. “We were welcomed here because of our growth potential,” Leech said. “That was not the case elsewhere.”
At the same time, Westwin Elements is advancing its efforts to scale up its pilot nickel plant, aiming to reach an annual output of 34,000 metric tons by 2030, which would account for 10% of the nation’s nickel requirements. The company, led by founder KaLeigh Long, named itself with a clear mission: to reduce American reliance on Chinese mineral processing. Long, who grew up raising cattle, likens refining to meat packing — a less risky, but highly profitable step in the supply chain. “I’d rather be the one doing the refining than the one doing the digging,” she said.
A Push for Strategic Independence
In addition to nickel, Oklahoma’s mineral ambitions include lithium. Stardust Power, building a refinery northeast of Lawton, aims to produce 50,000 metric tons of lithium per year. With backing from Japanese firm Sumitomo and partial power from Oklahoma’s abundant wind energy, Stardust is hoping to commercially filter lithium from brines — a method not yet proven at large scale in the U.S.
CEO Roshan Pujari believes this is the best time to build, even with lithium prices low. “It’s during these downturns that smart development happens. You don’t wait until prices spike — by then, it’s too late to enter.”
The momentum doesn’t stop there. USA Rare Earth is constructing a rare earth magnet facility to supply U.S. automakers and tech companies. These magnets are essential for electric vehicles and other advanced systems, yet American production had ceased decades ago. The Oklahoma plant, expected to open next year, will start by producing enough magnets for over 400,000 electric vehicles annually. Demand is already high after China restricted rare earth exports earlier this year.
Even battery recycling is taking root. Green Li-ion and Blue Whale Materials are opening facilities to recover metals like copper and nickel from used batteries. Much of this material has previously been shipped to China, but Oklahoma’s new recycling infrastructure could reverse that trend. Talks are underway between Green Li-ion and companies like Westwin and Glencore to supply recycled materials for domestic production.
Kevin Hobbie of Green Li-ion emphasized the state’s edge: “The chemical engineering talent here — a legacy of the oil and gas industry — is a huge advantage for processing black mass into usable metals.”
Still, the road hasn’t been without bumps. In a high-profile setback, EV startup Canoo filed for bankruptcy despite state funding. And the state’s educational system, ranked among the lowest in the nation, has raised concerns about attracting long-term, high-tech talent.
Governor Stitt remains undeterred, however, defending his broader strategy. “We’ll keep going all in,” he said. He has advocated for school voucher programs to improve educational competitiveness and has called on federal policymakers to prioritize domestically refined minerals in government contracts.
For entrepreneurs like Long, the stakes are personal and patriotic. “This is about economic independence,” she said. “We don’t want to rely on other nations for our future — we want to build it here.”