America’s only Class 1 nickel refinery is investing more than $500 million over five years in Natchez, creating 134 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $84,000 in the first phase of operations.
Westwin Elements produces high-purity Class 1 nickel used in national defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, specialty alloys, energy, and other industrial applications. The refinery will be constructed at the Belwood Industrial Site and will build on the company’s experience at its 20-tonne-per-year demonstration plant in Lawton, Okla., which has completed multiple production campaigns of on-spec Class 1 nickel powder using nickel carbonyl refining technology.
Westwin secured a long-term lease at the Belwood site, with the first phase of the project aiming for completion in 2029, where they will produce 18,000 tonnes of Class 1 nickel annually. According to Westwin, developing domestic refining capacity is critical to reducing U.S. dependence on foreign processing and strengthening the supply chains that support those industries.
“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,” said KaLeigh Long, founder and CEO of Westwin Elements. “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.”
According to Westwin, the Belwood site offers the company infrastructure and logistical advantages needed to support commercial-scale production, including immediate proximity to Natchez’s inland port and access to transportation networks serving the region.
“Westwin’s selection of the Belwood Industrial Site is the result of an extensive site-selection and due-diligence process and represents an important milestone for both the company and our community,” said Chandler Russ, Executive Director of Natchez, Inc. “Belwood’s Mississippi River access, industrial infrastructure, available land and ability to support a project of this scale made Natchez a strong fit for Westwin’s long-term plans.
“We are proud to have been selected and look forward to continuing our work with Westwin, the Mississippi Development Authority, Entergy and our local partners as the company advances the financing, engineering and permitting necessary to move this significant project toward construction.”
Construction of the Belwood refinery has not yet begun, but Westwin notes that they are working with the state and local partners to advance the project toward the planned commissioning of Phase 1 in 2029.