Westwin Elements has revealed plans for a $502m investment in the next five years to develop a large-scale Class 1 nickel refinery in Natchez, Mississippi, US.
The proposed facility, located at the Belwood Industrial Site, aims to produce 18,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of Class 1 nickel during its first phase, with commissioning projected for 2029.
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According to Westwin, the development is set to create 134 full-time jobs during the first phase of operations.
The Natchez project builds on the company’s previous experience operating a 20tpa demonstration plant in Lawton, Oklahoma.
At that facility, Westwin has completed multiple production campaigns using nickel carbonyl refining technology to produce on-spec Class 1 nickel powder.
A bankable feasibility study for the Natchez site has been completed and Westwin has secured a long-term lease for the Belwood location.
Westwin founder and CEO KaLeigh Long said: “Westwin was founded with the mission of delivering a win for the West and restoring the blue-collar American dream by bringing a critical industry back home.
“The Natchez site gives us the capacity to produce American-made Class 1 nickel at scale, strengthening a critical domestic supply our country needs while creating high-paying careers.”
The company has also entered into binding feedstock and offtake agreements to support early production and projected revenues for the facility’s initial phase.
The Belwood site was selected due to its existing infrastructure and logistics, including its proximity to Natchez’s inland port and access to key transportation networks.
High‑purity Class 1 nickel is essential for national security and is widely used in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, specialty alloy production, energy systems and other industrial sectors.
Building US-based refining capacity is important to lessen reliance on overseas processing and reinforce the supply chains that underpin these industries.
Construction of the refinery has not yet started and remains contingent on finalising financing, permitting, engineering and other necessary requirements.
Westwin continues to work with state and local partners to move the project forward.
