Westwin Elements breaks ground on America’s Only Critical Minerals Pilot Plant

Westwin Elements (Westwin), a trailblazer in the critical minerals industry, broke ground on a state-of-the-art nickel/cobalt refinery in Lawton, Oklahoma. This landmark facility marks a significant step towards reducing America’s reliance on foreign countries for its raw material supply chain while fostering economic growth and job opportunities in the region.

Through a strategic lease agreement and forgivable loan for the Pilot Plant, Lawton will play a crucial role in facilitating Westwin’s specific needs for the refinery. The 480-acre tract in the OK SW Rail Industrial Park will be home to the pilot refinery’s construction, carried out in collaboration with Ambler Architects, based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. This strategic partnership guarantees an accelerated timeline for completion, estimated to span just 3 to 5 months.

September 2025: The company behind a proposed nickel/cobalt refinery in Lawton says its test operation is running smoothly and leaders are raising millions more for a full operation.

Westwin Elements recently completed a feasibility study that is going through a final state of third-party review. It will be delivered to city leaders and the Lawton chamber of commerce. (https://www.okenergytoday.com/2025/09/westin-moves-closer-to-full-operations-of-mineral-refinery-in-lawton/)