Western Magnesium Corporation has selected Harrison County, Ohio, as the site of the first full-scale deployment of its proprietary magnesium extraction technology in the US.
In a statement, the company said its management spent a considerable amount of time vetting other states as well, but Harrison County “proved to be the ideal space for our first plant in the US.”
Western Magnesium added that the 122-acre property is not only adjacent to the future home of a modern mixed fuels power plant, which can provide power to its clean magnesium production, but it is also close to a dolomite supply and an infrastructure of rail and highway that will carry the company's magnesium finished product to industries across the US.
READ: Western Magnesium closes C$2.1M non-brokered private placement to help fund pilot plant
“It’s been a lengthy process for management to find the best opportunity for our first commercial plant,” said CEO Sam Ataya.
“This process was made easier by the hard work and support from JobsOhio and the local authorities and the people from Harrison County, who have graciously opened their county to our company.”
Nicholas Homrighausen, Harrison County CIC executive director of community & economic development, added: "We remain positive for this opportunity and looking forward to working with Western Magnesium towards successful completion of this innovative project that is over a billion-dollar investment with potential of over 200 high paying jobs.”
Western Magnesium said it intends to start with the build-out of a 100,000 metric ton plant, the equivalency of 10% of the world’s current supply. Each plant will employ up to 200 full-time 500 auxiliary positions.
The company added that it plans on breaking ground on the new plant in the next 18 months.
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