Welcome to CityBeat, a free weekly e-newsletter containing the latest news and information about the City of Bartlesville and related topics. Get yours delivered each week! https://bit.ly/2eaFETx | | Blue Whale Materials Co-founder and CEO Robert Kang expresses appreciation for local, state and federal leadership and the community's role in helping to facilitate BWM's recent location of a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in the Bartlesville Industrial Park. The company held a beam-signing ceremony at the facility on Monday, which was attended by several local and state dignitaries. | | |
Blue Whale Materials marks facility expansion
Several City, State leaders attend Bartlesville ceremony
| | |
Blue Whale Materials, a leader in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling and critical minerals supply chain development, hosted a Beam Signing Ceremony to celebrate the start of a major expansion at its Bartlesville facility.
Several members of Oklahoma’s federal and state leadership, the Bartlesville and Tulsa business communities, and Blue Whale Materials executives and stakeholders were in attendance to commemorate the next phase of the company’s U.S. growth strategy. U.S. Sen. James Lankford, who was unable to attend due to the federal government potentially reopening, appeared via video.
The expansion follows the commissioning of Blue Whale’s baseline black mass plant in August 2025, which established capacity to process up to 14,000 tons per year of battery manufacturing scrap into Blacksand™ — Blue Whale’s proprietary, high-purity black mass containing cobalt, nickel and lithium. With the need for domestic critical minerals, BWM’s Blacksand™ product is in high demand from refiners, material manufacturers and OEMs in the battery supply chain.
| |
"Bartlesville is proud to be on the forefront of this energy breakthrough," said Mayor Jim Curd. "The oil and gas industry is deeply rooted in Bartlesville -- and Oklahoma -- and is essential to our nation's growth and security. This expansion will add additional production of domestically-produced critical minerals, create always-needed jobs for our local economy, and is a solid win for the nation, our state, and our community."
Blue Whale Materials received a $55 million U.S. Department of Energy grant in January 2025, which will increase annual processing capacity to more than 20,000 tons by Q1 2026 and ultimately up to 50,000 tons per year as part of a four-year expansion plan.
The expanded facility will include additional processing lines, an enhanced testing and grading center for end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries and upgraded logistics and safety infrastructure. When complete, the project will add more than 150 high-quality jobs in Bartlesville and establish one of the largest pre-processing operations for lithium-ion batteries in North America.
“Blue Whale Materials' expansion in Bartlesville represents the kind of innovation and investment that strengthens both Oklahoma's economy and manufacturing base and America's energy security,” said Lankford. “This project reinforces domestic competitiveness by giving US suppliers a seat at the table and reducing dependence on adversaries for critical minerals."
“Oklahoma is the best state for business and the best state for critical mineral development," said Gov. Kevin Stitt. "I’m proud Blue Whale chose to build here in Oklahoma and is choosing to expand its operations in our state. This is great for Oklahoma’s economy, bringing jobs and investment, and it is great for our nation’s security.”
“Today’s beam signing is a symbol of continued momentum,” said Robert Kang, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Whale Materials. “Our Bartlesville facility is already producing high-quality Blacksand™, and this expansion demonstrates both the strength of our technology and the national importance of our mission.”
| | |
Key Project Milestones & Strategic Outlook
Beam Signing Ceremony
November 10 event marking start of expansion construction.
Baseline Commissioning (August 2025)
14,000 tons/year black mass line producing Blacksand™ commissioned.
Expansion Target
Next-phase capacity > 20,000 tons/year; full expansion to 50,000 tons/year over four years.
Jobs & Impact
+150 jobs; major boost to U.S. circular-supply-chain resilience.
| | |
About Blue Whale Materials
Blue Whale Materials is an industry-leading battery-recycling company focused on closing the loop in the lithium-ion battery ecosystem. With proprietary technology, BWM converts spent cells, modules, packs, and production scrap into high-grade Blacksand™ — a premium black mass optimized for efficient refining and reuse in new battery production. Its Bartlesville facility serves as the cornerstone of its rapidly expanding domestic strategy. Learn more at bluewhalematerials.com. Blue Whale Materials is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity and infrastructure firm focused on next-generation industrial businesses.
Photos
Above, left: Mayor Jim Curd, left, joined State officials and the company's co-founders for the beam signing.
Above, right: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) appeared via video to recognize the company's accomplishments.
Bottom, right: The BWM Bartlesville team pose for a photo following the ceremony.
Information and photos courtesy of Blue Whale Materials
| | |
Trash routes amended for Thanksgiving holiday
Most City offices, recycle center closed November 27-28
| |
Most City of Bartlesville offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Police and fire services will continue as normally scheduled with no interruption. City offices will re-open as normally scheduled on Monday, Dec. 1.
Trash schedule
Thursday trash routes will be serviced on Wednesday, Nov. 26, instead of Nov. 27. Trash must be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, for collection.
Friday trash routes will be collected on Friday, Nov. 28, as normally scheduled.
Recycling
The City Recycle Center, which is normally open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, will be closed Friday, Nov. 28.
| | |
Community open house
Several citizens attended a community open house on Monday to share their ideas on ways to improve the City’s development code, including the zoning and subdivision regulations. The City’s planning consultant, Freese and Nichols Inc., provided background and a summary of the upcoming code update effort. Following the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to visit and engage with the consultant, city staff and interactive exhibits. Feedback collected will help guide a fundamental re-drafting of the City’s zoning and subdivision regulations, which will be presented to City Council for consideration and adoption next year. The assessment and re-drafting of the development regulations are action items listed in the city’s recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, Endeavor 2045.
| | |
White Rose Luminary Service is November 22
The annual White Rose Luminary Service will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the White Rose Mausoleum. The purpose of the service is to honor and remember loved ones.
Luminaries, which consist of a small paper sack weighted down with sand and illuminated by an LED light, are placed around the halls of the White Rose Mausoleum. Each luminary has a card attached with the loved one’s name and by whom they are honored.
Rosie Swindell will read the names of those being remembered, and Joe Todd will read the names on the cemetery’s Military Killed in Action and Bodies Not Recovered monument.
After the service, guests are invited to take their luminary and place it on the grave of their loved one.
Loved ones do not have to be buried at White Rose Cemetery to have a luminary in their memory. Luminaries may be purchased for $5 each at the Bartlesville Public Library through Nov. 14.
For more information, call 918.338.4070 or email whiterose@cityofbartlesville.org.
| | Free yard debris collection set for December 8-12 | | |
The City's next free yard debris collection will take place the week of Dec. 8-12.
Bartlesville residents can put their bagged yard debris or bundled tree limbs at their normal trash collection point on their normal trash day during the week of the event and City crews will come by and pick them up.
The collection is for the following items only:
- Leaves
- Grass
- Lawn clippings
- Limbs and branches if cut in lengths no longer than four feet and bundled (may not exceed 50 pounds)
During this event only, yard debris bags will not require yard waste stickers, and clear or colored bags are allowed.
The collection is for private residences only; no commercial collections will be made.
There is no limit on the number of bags a resident can put out for the collection. Extra bags or items of household refuse outside the cart must have the red refuse sticker attached.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste Department at 918.338.4130.
| | Fire Department accepting applications for new firefighters | | |
Help wanted
Are you looking for a career that offers competitive pay, excellent benefits and an opportunity to serve your community? We've got you covered! Click here to view open positions and submit an application. For questions or more information, contact the Human Resources Department at 918.338.4221.
| | |
Board, Committee & Commission Openings
The City of Bartlesville has numerous boards, committees and commissions that are driven by citizen volunteers. All citizens are encouraged and welcome to apply.
Board applications are available online and in the City Manager’s Office, located on the second floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. Applications are kept on file for two years.
To view open committees/board positions, for more information or to apply, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.
| | |
Annual report
The City of Bartlesville has published its second annual report, offering residents a comprehensive look at municipal performance and progress throughout Fiscal Year 2024-25. This detailed document reflects the City’s commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement across all departments. The full report is available online here, with a downloadable PDF version here. Printed copies can be picked up at City Hall and the Bartlesville Public Library.
| | | | |
