Big step for junior vanadium miner

Junior critical minerals miner QEM has made a big step forward for its Julia Creek vanadium and oil shale project in northwest Queensland. The company has engaged E2C Advisory to undertake the design and selection of the bench-scale pilot plant to facilitate more advanced test work on a larger scale. Specialist manufacturer AMAR Equipment is drafting the final technical drawings for the plant which is expected to be provided before the end of month (June21). QEM Managing Director Gavin Loyden QEM anticipates it will sign a construction agreement early next month, upon approval of the final specifications, with work on the bench-scale pilot plant to follow, said QEM Managing Director Gavin Loyden. QEM remains on target to commence operational activity at the bench-scale pilot plant next year said Mr Loyden. “The pilot plant will facilitate larger scale testing and generate the bulk product material required to optimise the vanadium recovery from the resource at the Julia Creek vanadium and oil shale project,” said Mr Loyden. Vanadium was designated a Critical Mineral by the Australian Government in 2019 and is not yet produced in Australia. The Company is also progressing the study of green hydrogen production onsite at Julia Creek with DNV Australia to further enhance the potential value that can be derived from the project. Green hydrogen is a key part of QEM’s ethical and responsible vanadium and oil processing and carbon emission reduction strategy, said Mr Loyden. “QEM will look to produce green hydrogen by harnessing the abundant local solar and wind resources available at Julia Creek, both for the energy needs of its own project and potentially others in the North West Minerals Province,” he said. “QEM is also pleased to note that the Queensland government intends to invest $2 billion into the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund1. “One of the aims of the fund is to drive future development in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province, with a key objective being Vanadium production in Queensland. QEM will carefully review eligibility criteria for this funding.” The latest milestone marked another key step in the Company unlocking the significant value potential at Julia Creek, said QEM Managing Director Gavin Loyden. “QEM is the only project in Queensland that is seeking to produce both vanadium pentoxide and hydrogen,” Mr Loyden said. “Advancing the bench-scale pilot plant, in tandem with the continued green hydrogen studies, illustrates that we are pragmatically developing both the green hydrogen component, and the vanadium and oil shale component of the Julia Creek project.” The company has engaged E2C Advisory to undertake the design and selection of the bench-scale pilot plant to facilitate more advanced test work on a larger scale. Specialist manufacturer AMAR Equipment is drafting the final technical drawings for the plant which is expected to be provided before the end of month (June21). QEM anticipates it will sign a construction agreement early next month, upon approval of the final specifications, with work on the bench-scale pilot plant to follow, said QEM Managing Director Gavin Loyden. QEM remains on target to commence operational activity at the bench-scale pilot plant next year said Mr Loyden. “The pilot plant will facilitate larger scale testing and generate the bulk product material required to optimise the vanadium recovery from the resource at the Julia Creek vanadium and oil shale project,” said Mr Loyden. Vanadium was designated a Critical Mineral by the Australian Government in 2019 and is not yet produced in Australia. The Company is also progressing the study of green hydrogen production onsite at Julia Creek with DNV Australia to further enhance the potential value that can be derived from the project. Green hydrogen is a key part of QEM’s ethical and responsible vanadium and oil processing and carbon emission reduction strategy, said Mr Loyden. “QEM will look to produce green hydrogen by harnessing the abundant local solar and wind resources available at Julia Creek, both for the energy needs of its own project and potentially others in the North West Minerals Province,” he said. “QEM is also pleased to note that the Queensland government intends to invest $2 billion into the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund1. “One of the aims of the fund is to drive future development in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province, with a key objective being Vanadium production in Queensland. QEM will carefully review eligibility criteria for this funding.” The latest milestone marked another key step in the Company unlocking the significant value potential at Julia Creek, said QEM Managing Director Gavin Loyden. “QEM is the only project in Queensland that is seeking to produce both vanadium pentoxide and hydrogen,” Mr Loyden said. “Advancing the bench-scale pilot plant, in tandem with the continued green hydrogen studies, illustrates that we are pragmatically developing both the green hydrogen component, and the vanadium and oil shale component of the Julia Creek project.”

Big step for junior vanadium miner

Industry Queensland

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