The Queensland’s Office of the Coordinator General has declared QEM’s (ASX:QEM) Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project as a ‘coordinated project’.
Coordinated project status is considered a milestone in recognising the Julia Creek Project’s complexity, strategic value, and potential positive social and economic impact.
The declaration also establishes the environmental approvals processes, including an environmental impact statement which could be assessed and decided through the joint Queensland and Australian Government bilateral agreement.
Managing Director Gavin Loyden says the company is committed to develop a major long-term project in Queensland’s northwest minerals province.
“The dual commodity nature of our project aims to address two urgent needs: long duration energy storage and domestic fuel security,” Loyden says.
“The adoption of vanadium flow batteries is accelerating around the world and Queensland is uniquely positioned to establish a ‘pit to battery’ manufacturing industry.
“QEM will expand its participation in the value chain by processing its vanadium pentoxide into vanadium electrolyte for flow batteries.”
The coordinated project declaration follows QEM completing a Scoping Study, which reveals Julia Creek to have a 30-year mine life with a production target of 10,571 tonnes of vanadium pentoxide and 313 million litres of transport fuel per year over the mine life.
QEM says the Julia Creek Project is predicted to create up to 600 jobs over a two-year construction period and 588 permanent jobs during its operational phase.
The company expects that at least 35% of the operational jobs will be residential based in Julia Creek or nearby towns. Pending approvals, the company expects construction of the project will begin in early 2028, with a commissioning and operational phase to begin in late 2029.
QEM is an explorer and developer focused on its Julia Creek Project, which covers 250km2 in the Julia Creek area of northwest Queensland.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: QEM
