Resources and chemicals group Australian Vanadium has extended its option to purchase land for a value-adding metals processing facility close to the port of Geraldton in Western Australia.
The company is developing a vanadium, iron and titanium resource at Gabanintha south of Meekatharra, where it will undertake crushing, milling and benefaction of the magnetite ores.
The resulting concentrate would be transported to Mullewa near the port where final refinement to high-quality, high-value vanadium products will take place.
Managing director Vincent Algar said studies had confirmed the site as ideal for the company.
“The extension of our option over the relevant land, for a modest fee, is a logical step as we move forward with our feasibility work and towards production.”
The benefits of the site include access to cheaper natural gas and the opportunity to power the site with a large component of renewable energy, backed by a vanadium redox flow battery..
Australian Vanadium already manufactures vanadium battery electrolyte, and has signed agreements with Hebei Yanshan Vanadium and Titanium Industry Technology Research Co to supply the Chinese market.
The company also markets vanadium redox flow batteries in Australia.
Picture: Australian Vanadium/pilot plant at Balcatta, Perth
www.aumanufacturing.com.au
