An ‘if’ report in Mining Weekly ; If Labor is reelected as State...

An ‘if’ report in Mining Weekly ;
If Labor is reelected as State Government on March 8
… and if the promise is kept ;


https://www.miningweekly.com/article/wa-premier-makes-vanadium-election-pledge-2025-01-30

WA Premier makes vanadium election pledge


WA Premier Roger Cook

30th January 2025
By: Mariaan Webb
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Western Australian Premier RogerCook on Thursday pledged to support the vanadium industry if the Labor Party is re-elected to govern the state.
Cook said his government would provide A$150-million for a new, Western Australia-made 50 MW vanadium battery in Kalgoorlie to reinforce the Goldfields’ energysystem.
The battery will provide 10 hours of back-up electricity storage to provide an additional layer of protection and guard against weather events or other supply disruptions.
Western Australia has one of the world’s largest vanadium deposits being developed south of Meekatharra, with local vanadium supply expected by

“I want this project to be a catalyst to drive a new vanadium mining, processing and export industry for WA,” Cook stated.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) welcomed the election pledge, stating that the organisation had been working closely with the government and Vanadium members over the past three years to find ways to support this emerging market.

“The project will create some 150 jobs, and a vanadium flow battery of this size provides a nice entry level to adding more batteries to WA’s energy mix,” said Amec acting CEO Neil van Drunen.
“The science shows that vanadium flow batteries provide long duration energy storage. Adding these to our energygrid can only help appease our ongoing thirst for energy.”
“Critical minerals like vanadium will continue to play a vital role in the energy transition.”

More than 85% of the world’s vanadium supply coming from Russia, China, South Africa and Brazil.
Vanadium offers benefits over conventional lithium batteries, including heat resistance, lifespan, recyclability and no fire risk.
It has additional applications in steel production, electronics, fuel cells, superconductors and fertilisers.