On Tuesday, company executives signed due diligence paperwork to begin planning for the prospective plant at the Harrison County Industrial Park, which will be the plant's future location. According to previous reports, the project will be the first full-scale deployment of the company's unique magnesium extraction method in the United States.
The $1 billion magnesium facility will be built on a 122-acre site within Cadiz's industrial zone. Western Magnesium Corp. executive president and CEO Sam Ataya said the county was chosen following a 16-month search of Ohio and the United States. He claimed that the company's decision was influenced by "needs" and "pleasant surprises."
“Logistics is one reason we felt strongly about the area we’re going into. We were able to identify that the area had enough power and speed for what we need to operate our plant there. It’s a central area, so when we do produce magnesium, that metal can reach industry effectively and promptly,” he said.
“We worked with JobsOhio, who was fantastic in helping us select the site and look at everything around us. … The community leaders were very welcoming and really worked with us on our needs, and that’s something for us that we take a great interest in. I think plants in the old days would look at a site and not worry about anything else, but for us, looking at the community, education, the colleges, the high schools where we’re really able to work with them as well because we’re developing new job skills.”
According to Ataya, the due diligence stage has already begun. The business is flying a drone over the property to begin mapping out the land so officials can decide where the facility will be built. The due diligence stage will last for the next 12-18 months, following which the corporation expects the building to begin. He stated that they intend to develop a 300,000square-foot structure as well as additional structures on the property. According to the firm, each factory will employ up to 200 full-time employees and 500 part-time jobs.
