Talon Metals Corp. and the United Steelworkers union (USW) announced a ground-breaking new workforce development partnership to advance the Tamarack Nickel Project in Tamarack, MN. The Tamarack Nickel Project, located 86 km (54 miles) west of Duluth, is the only undeveloped high-grade nickel deposit in the United States with the prospect to create an integrated U.S.-based nickel supply chain for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Domestic nickel production for the battery supply chain has been a priority for both the Biden and Trump Administrations.

Talon’s preliminary mine design incorporates progressive technologies for minimizing environmental impacts, using renewable energy for operations and developing skills in the local community to provide a highly qualified workforce at the proposed mine and processing facilities. Talon is exploring opportunities for carbon capture and storage at Tamarack, leveraging the natural advantages of the deposit for carbon mineralization. Talon is also in the process of evaluating battery nickel’s first transparent and traceable supply chain from the proposed mine to battery manufacturing using blockchain tracing technology.

As part of the agreement, the USW will work collaboratively with Talon management to plan for the potential production and maintenance workforce required at the Tamarack Nickel Project and develop a strategic plan for future recruitment. It is envisaged that the proposed mine at the Tamarack Nickel Project will require a mix of experienced underground miners and “new age” miners with skills in automation, AI, and computer modeling. From new skills to fundamental mining experience, the Talon management team and Steelworkers plan to work together to source talented people from the local community and mining regions in the US that are facing declining demand. It is currently expected that the Tamarack Nickel Project would likely create 500 full-time high paying jobs.

The USW and Talon will work with skills development institutions in the region to provide localized skills training to build the future workforce needed to ensure that the Tamarack Nickel Project is a key contributor to the EV battery supply chain in the US. As part of the collaboration agreement, Talon has agreed to remain neutral during any organizing efforts by the USW at the Tamarack Nickel Project.

“This agreement is ground-breaking and a fundamental change in how future mines can be developed. I am thrilled that our team will be integrated into the workforce planning for this vital new source of critical minerals in the EV battery supply chain in the US,” said USW International President Tom Conway. “Our goal is clear, we plan to build a mine that will help ensure US manufacturing has the needed technology to meet the challenge of global warming. The Tamarack Nickel Project has the prospect of being the US domestic supplier of high-grade nickel and other critical minerals and the world’s first carbon negative mine.”

“Talon is looking forward to partnering with the Steelworkers to build the mine workforce of the future and operate the mine at Tamarack as a key contributor to the US EV battery supply chain,” Henri van Rooyen, Talon’s CEO said. “The Steelworkers and its members know mining and also the changing technology needed to prevent climate change. We are eager to begin working together to build the mine of the future.”