Victory Metals has been awarded a $250,000 research grant from the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA).
The grant follows rigorous technical evaluation and underscores the project’s importance in bolstering Australia’s critical minerals sector.
North Stanmore hosts a JORC resource containing 7.7 million kilograms of scandium, a high-value by-product with a forecast price of $US630/kg, according to Adamas Intelligence.
“This MRIWA grant has been awarded following a highly competitive process with rigorous technical scrutiny,” Victory Metals chief executive officer and executive director Brendan Clark said.
“With China and Russia dominating 90 per cent of global scandium oxide supply and China’s recent export restrictions, North Stanmore’s 7.7 million kilogram scandium resource is a strategic asset for defence and renewable energy. Scandium oxide … enables lightweight alloys for fighter jets and fuel cells for clean energy.
“Building on our MREC separation success, this project positions Victory Metals as a leader in Western Australia’s role in global critical minerals supply chains.”
Scandium is increasingly recognised for its role in both defence and renewable energy applications.
Lightweight scandium-aluminium alloys are used in fighter jets, commercial aircraft, electric vehicles, drones, and missiles, while the metal is also vital in solid oxide fuel cells, such as Bloom Energy’s Bloom Box, which supplies clean power to industrial users and data centres.
China’s decision in April 2025 to add scandium to its export control list has further sharpened supply chain risks.
Against this backdrop, North Stanmore’s unique scandium-bearing alkaline intrusion strengthens Australia’s capacity to provide a secure, alternative source.
The project aligns with Western Australia’s Research Priority Plan for downstream processing and supports Victory’s strategy to advance North Stanmore, which has a net present value of $1.2 billion and a projected 31-year mine life.
Want to connect with the mining industry? Register to attend AIMEX and WA Mining Conference.
