Metalplant

What Metalplant does

Metalplant Public Benefit Company is a Delaware-incorporated climate-tech company that produces carbon-negative nickel by combining nickel phytomining with enhanced rock weathering (ERW). The company quarries and crushes high-purity olivine (~80% forsterite) using hydroelectric power, applies the crushed rock to fields planted with nickel hyperaccumulator species native to the Balkan ultramafic soils of northern Albania, harvests the nickel-rich biomass (1–2% nickel by dry weight, up to 20% in ash), and processes it into battery-grade nickel sulfate hexahydrate for EV battery cathodes. Simultaneously, CO2 released during weathering binds with magnesium to form bicarbonate that runs off to the ocean for long-term alkalinity storage, yielding verified carbon removal credits. The company's commercial portfolio comprises NegativeNickel (carbon-negative nickel bundled with CDR credits), HyperNickel (green nickel from phytomining alone), HyperWeathering (standalone CDR credits), and consumer olivine specimens branded as Silicate Valley.

Metalplant generates revenue through negotiated B2B contracts with EV battery manufacturers, cathode producers, automotive OEMs, and corporate CDR credit buyers, supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce for branded olivine specimens. Sales motion is primarily enterprise field sales, with pricing tied to LME nickel benchmarks plus a potential green premium for bundled CDR value. Current operations cover 7 hectares in northern Albania's Mirdita Ophiolite region, with co-founder Sahit Muja's affiliated entity providing exclusive access to a multi-billion tonne high-purity olivine deposit at very low cost. The company holds a patent-pending Hyperweathering process and is developing sterile, non-GMO hyperaccumulator cultivars with Verinomics under a $1.72M DOE ARPA-E award to enable future U.S. deployment.

Metalplant is led by Interim CEO and Co-Founder Laura Wasserson (who previously scaled a venture to $180M in revenue), CTO and Co-Founder Eric Matzner (former Project Vesta pioneer and IPCC AR6 expert reviewer), and Head of Farming, Mining & Logistics Sahit Muja. The company maintains core research partnerships with the University of Sheffield, Rothamsted Research, the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, the Agricultural University of Tirana, and EcoEngineers for MRV verification. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional venture capital backing.

Name

Metalplant

Legal name

Metalplant Public Benefit Company

Website

https://metalplant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metalplant is a Delaware public benefit company that combines nickel phytomining with enhanced rock weathering in Albania to produce carbon-negative nickel and verified CDR credits for EV battery manufacturers and corporate carbon buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Nickel Production (Phytomining)

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Secondary Smelting, Refining, and Alloying of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) (331492)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Miscellaneous Metal Ores (1090)

akta.pro primary industry

Nickel Mining & Concentrates (IMAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)

Keywords

• Carbon removal credits
• Nickel phytomining
• Enhanced rock weathering
• Battery-grade nickel sulfate
• Critical minerals mining

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NegativeNickel Sales: Sale of carbon-negative nickel products (HyperNickel and NegativeNickel) to EV battery manufacturers, stainless steel producers, and clean energy companies. Nickel is processed into battery-grade Nickel Sulfate Hexahydrate (NiSO4) for EV battery cathodes. Revenue model is transaction-based per tonne of nickel sold, with pricing tied to LME nickel benchmarks plus potential green premium.
2. Carbon Removal Credits (CDR): Sale of carbon removal credits from enhanced rock weathering operations. HyperWeathering credits are sold individually or bundled with nickel as NegativeNickel packages. Credits are verified through EcoEngineers MRV system compliant with Puro.earth methodology and ISO 14064-2 standards.
3. Silicate Valley Olivine Products: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of hand-selected olivine specimens branded as Silicate Valley Stand (Founders Edition) from the company's quarry and innovation hub.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Metalplant produces carbon-negative nickel (NegativeNickel™) and verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits by combining nickel phytomining with enhanced rock weathering. The company grows nickel hyperaccumulator plants on fields treated with crushed olivine in northern Albania, harvests the nickel-rich biomass, and processes it into battery-grade nickel sulfate hexahydrate for EV battery cathodes while generating CDR credits with 10,000–100,000 year permanence. Products are sold individually (HyperNickel™, HyperWeathering™ credits) or bundled as NegativeNickel™ packages to enterprise buyers.

Product overview

Metalplant offers a portfolio of nature-based products centered on phytomining (growing nickel-hyperaccumulator plants) and enhanced rock weathering (applying crushed olivine to soil). The core products are NegativeNickel™ (carbon-negative nickel combining both processes) and HyperNickel™ (green nickel from phytomining alone). Add-on products include HyperWeathering™ (standalone carbon removal credits) and Silicate Valley™ Olivine specimens. The company sells these individually or as integrated NegativeNickel™ packages combining nickel production with CDR credits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NegativeNickel™: Carbon-negative nickel produced through the combination of nickel phytomining and enhanced rock weathering. Can be sold alongside CDR credits or independently.
• HyperNickel™
• HyperWeathering™
• Silicate Valley™

Products and services

• NegativeNickel™ Carbon-negative nickel produced through the combination of nickel phytomining and enhanced rock weathering. The process sequesters over 100 net tonnes of CO₂ for every tonne of nickel produced, making it a climate-positive metal product for EV batteries and stainless steel.
• HyperNickel™ Green nickel produced through phytomining with nickel hyperaccumulating plants and recovered to pure nickel. Plants accumulate nickel in their tissues to 1–2% dry weight, with processed ash reaching up to 20% nickel content, comparable to rich nickel ores.
• HyperWeathering™ Carbon Dioxide Removal Credits Carbon dioxide removal credits generated from the enhanced weathering of olivine in hyperaccumulator fields. Excess, unallocated CDR credits that can be sold independently of nickel products; verified under Puro.earth methodology and ISO 14064-2 standards via EcoEngineers MRV.
• Silicate Valley™ Olivine Stand (Founders Edition) Hand-selected olivine specimens from Metalplant's quarry and innovation hub in a valley surrounded by silicate minerals, branded as Silicate Valley™. A premium collectible consumer product featuring high-purity olivine.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 net tonnes CO2 sequestered per tonne of nickel produced
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VerinomicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2024Plant genetic editing firm partnering with Metalplant on the $1.72M DOE ARPA-E PHYTOMINES project to develop sterile, non-GMO, high-yielding nickel hyperaccumulator cultivars suitable for safe cultivation in the United States. The partnership addresses sterility requirements to prevent invasive behavior while increasing nickel yields.
• University of SheffieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld leader in enhanced rock weathering. Partnership uses Leverhulme's advanced 1-dimensional reactive transport model (1D-RTM) to validate field-based measurements and quantify weathering rates over time. Working with Mike Kelland on ERW modeling.
• Rothamsted ResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld-leading non-profit agricultural research center home to the 'oldest, continuous agronomic experiment in the world.' Partnership to design statistically robust agricultural experiments for hyperaccumulator field trials. Working with Steve McGrath on biogeochemistry.
• Leverhulme Center for Climate Change MitigationcoreTechnology or IntegrationResearch center bringing together researchers to explore enhanced rock weathering on croplands for CO2 removal. Partnership focuses on chelator-enhanced weathering biotechnology research.
• Agricultural University of TiranacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Professor Aida Bani, globally-recognized expert in phytomining, hyperaccumulator biomass farming, optimizing plant growth, and increasing nickel uptake. Critical for maximizing hyperaccumulator performance.
• EcoEngineerscoreTechnology or IntegrationMRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) partner developing combined Enhanced Weathering & Phytomining Methodology compliant with ISO 14064-2 and Puro.earth's ERW methodology. Essential for verifying carbon removal claims for carbon credit sales.
• Albanian MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent/affiliated company led by entrepreneur Sahit Muja providing exclusive access to high-purity olivine deposit (~80% forsterite, 0.33-0.343% nickel) adjacent to Albanian operations at very low cost. Albanian Minerals family holdings include extensive ultramafic exposures with megatonnes of nickel and gigatonnes of CDR potential.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Talon Metals: Talon Metals is developing the Tamarack nickel-copper-cobalt project in Minnesota, targeting US domestic battery-grade nickel supply. Comparable to Metalplant's IRA-compliant, US-focused nickel strategy.

Direct peers

• Lithos Carbon: Lithos Carbon enhances rock weathering by spreading crushed silicate rock (basalt) on agricultural lands to sequester CO2. It is the closest direct peer to Metalplant's ERW component, using a similar nature-based mineralization approach aimed at farmers and CDR credit buyers.
• Eion Carbon: Eion Carbon applies olivine (a magnesium silicate) to farmland to capture atmospheric CO2 via enhanced rock weathering. Like Metalplant, it combines mineral-based CDR with agricultural deployment and targets corporate carbon credit buyers.
• Terrestrial Carbon: Terrestrial Carbon is an enhanced rock weathering carbon removal company deploying silicate rock amendments on croplands. It competes in the same CDR credit market segment that Metalplant's HyperWeathering™ credits target.
• 44.01: 44.01 accelerates CO2 mineralization using peridotite (olivine-rich rock) in Oman for permanent ocean alkalinity storage. Comparable to Metalplant's olivine weathering pathway producing bicarbonate that runs off to the ocean.
• InPlanet: InPlanet applies enhanced rock weathering in tropical regions using basalt to remove carbon dioxide. It is an emerging competitor in the silicate-based CDR market overlapping with Metalplant's HyperWeathering™ offering.

Broad incumbents

• Heirloom Carbon Technologies: Heirloom is a leading DAC-based carbon removal company using limestone and proprietary technology. While its method differs from enhanced weathering, it competes for the same corporate CDR credit buyers Metalplant targets.
• BHP (Nickel West): BHP's Nickel West division is a major integrated nickel mining and processing operation producing battery-grade nickel sulfate. As the established incumbent in nickel supply for EV batteries, it represents the conventional competitor Metalplant must displace.
• Eramet: Eramet is a global mining and metallurgy company producing nickel, manganese, and other metals for stainless steel and EV batteries. Operates nickel mines in New Caledonia and Indonesia, making it a direct conventional competitor in battery-grade nickel supply.

Others

• Puro.earth: Puro.earth is a carbon removal marketplace and registry whose methodology Metalplant's CDR credits are verified against. As both an enabler of credit sales and an ecosystem participant, it is adjacent to the carbon removal supply chain Metalplant operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phytomining

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metalplant