US EV Battery Supply Chain: Talon Commends Draft Guidelines Implementng IRA Critical Mineral Requirements "Balanced" New Rules Should Establish Domestic Mineral Preference Through Strong Enforcement Mechanisms
US EV Battery Supply Chain: Talon Commends
Draft Guidelines Implementng IRA Critical
Mineral Requirements
"Balanced" New Rules Should Establish Domestic Mineral
Preference Through Strong Enforcement Mechanisms
Tamarack, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2023) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC Pink:
TLOFF) (
"Talon"
or the
"Company"
), the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel Project
("
Tamarack Nickel Project
") in central Minnesota, commends the Biden Administration for new draft
rules published today on the implementation of the Section 30D tax credit provisions as amended by the
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Section 30D provides an individual tax credit of up to $7,500 for individual
taxpayers that purchase a qualifying electric vehicle. To qualify for the credit, an EV must be
manufactured in North America and use a battery that contains a certain percentage of minerals, such as
nickel and lithium, that were extracted or processed in the United States or certain free trade agreement
(FTA) countries.
Talon Metals CEO Henri van Rooyen commented:
"This is a balanced approach to two urgent
objectives: securing strategic supply chains while also advancing America's ability to get more EVs
on the road. Addressing climate change through the energy transition and building a strong domestic
battery manufacturing capability from mining to recycling are vital goals."
The draft rules published by the U.S. Department of Treasury today provide guidance in the sourcing of
critical minerals and battery components for credit-eligible EV batteries. While minerals sourced from
FTA countries are eligible, the law excludes vehicles which include critical minerals or battery
components from "foreign entities of concern."
Todd Malan, Talon Metals Chief External Affairs Officer & Head of Climate Strategy commented,
"Congress put a premium on minerals sourced domestically or from our free trade allies. These rules
are faithful to this preference.
We hope that additional clarification of the Foreign Entity of Concern
provisions, including audit and claw-back mechanisms, will ensure that minerals processed in Russia,
China, or sourced by Chinese-owned companies in countries like Indonesia do not end up in
qualifying vehicles through opaque supply chains or "mineral laundering."
With enforcement
measures in place, minerals sourced from mines and recycling facilities in the US and free trade
allies will be the easiest way to meet the requirements and support the development of the domestic
supply chain."
Talon CEO van Rooyen concluded:
"The United States has significant high grade-nickel deposits. In
1997, the Department of Interior and U.S. Geological Survey predicted that there were high-grade
nickel mineralization zones in the US that are similar to zones in Canada and Russia. They focused
on the U.S. Mid-Continental Rift (MCR), which extends from Kansas up through Michigan. Talon is
singularly focused on exploring for these high-grade nickel deposits in the United States. The IRA, the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the expanded authority of the Defense Production Act Title III
Program all provide the private sector with strong incentives to responsibly explore and develop
battery resources like nickel in the US, all at high standards for environmental protection, labor and
human rights, public consultation in permitting and in consultation with tribal sovereign governments.
The scale of mineral demand for the energy transition will require new responsible mining and
recycling. There is not enough nickel, lithium, copper and cobalt in circulation today to achieve the
energy transition through recycling alone. That said, the nickel we extract today is infinitely recyclable
and will support generations of batteries in a future circular battery supply chain."
About Talon
Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with
Rio Tinto
on the high-grade
Tamarack
Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project
located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US
over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land
position (18km of strike length) with high-grade intercepts
outside the current resource area
. Talon has
an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project, and currently owns 51%. Talon is
focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in
accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii)
following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex.
Talon has
an agreement with Tesla Inc.
to supply it with 75,000 metric tonnes (165 million lbs) of nickel in
concentrate (and certain by-products, including cobalt and iron) from the Tamarack Nickel Project over
an estimated six-year period once commercial production is achieved. Talon has a
neutrality and
workforce development agreement
in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral
Processing Facility in Mercer County was
selected by the US Department of Energy
for $114m funding
grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine
development, external affairs and mine permitting teams.
For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at
www.talonmetals.com
.
Media Contact:
Todd Malan
1-(202)-714-8187
Investor Contact:
Sean Werger
1-(416)-500-9891
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements
of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or
anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently
available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the
implementation of the Section 30D tax credit provisions as amended by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could
cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and
even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will
have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be
required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue
reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/160784