Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan has named QEM’s Julia Creek vanadium and energy project a “coordinated project”, allowing the environmental approvals process with the Queensland and Federal Governments to commence.
Covering a 250km2 landholding in the North West Minerals Province, the proposed $1.096 billion Julia Creek vanadium and energy project is considered “a unique world-class resource”.
The project will comprise a greenfield vanadium and oil shale mine, alongside processing facilities situated approximately 16km southeast of the Julia Creek town. It aims to produce 10,571 tonnes of high-purity vanadium pentoxide and 313 million litres of transport fuel per annum over a 30-year mine life.
QEM will use Julia Creek to refine high-purity vanadium pentoxide on-site, which will then be transported to Townsville for downstream domestic processing into vanadium electrolyte, a key component of vanadium flow batteries.
The project currently holds a vanadium resource made up of approximately 2.9 billion tonnes, with 461 million tonnes falling under the indicated category, making it one of the largest vanadium deposits in the world.
Julia Creek is expected to create up to 600 jobs over the two-year construction period, and approximately 588 jobs during the mine’s operational phase.
“Delivering major projects is a key priority of the Queensland Government,” Coggan said.
“The office of the Coordinator-General will oversee the project evaluation by all government agencies, requiring an environmental impact assessment with community consultation.”
QEM managing director Gavin Loyden welcomed Coggan’s decision.
“The dual commodity nature of our project aims to address two urgent needs: long-duration energy storage and domestic fuel security,” Loyden said.
“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.”
Subject to approvals, construction of the Julia Creek vanadium and energy project is expected to begin in early 2028, with the commissioning and operational phase expected to begin in late 2029.
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