Demand for nickel, a silvery-white metal used to boost energy storage in a battery's cathode, is expected to jump over the next decade as electric vehicles go mainstream.

Earlier this year, Tesla Inc signed its first U.S. nickel supply deal with Talon, securing a key U.S. source of the metal for its battery factories in Texas and Nevada.

Talon said its Minnesota project, slated to open by 2026, is a joint venture with global miner Rio Tinto.

(Reporting by Arshreet Singh; Editing by Devika Syamnath)