AVL’s Vanadium Project Boasts 395 Million Tonnes Resource, Gains WA Lead Agency Status

Government Endorsement Elevates Project Status

Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX: AVL) has achieved a significant milestone with its Australian Vanadium Project being designated as a lead agency advice and support project under the Western Australian Government's Lead Agency Framework. This framework is designed to streamline government efforts towards projects that align with the state’s decarbonisation and economic diversification priorities, signalling strong institutional backing for AVL’s ambitions.

By securing this status, AVL benefits from coordinated government support aimed at expediting approvals and facilitating development, a critical advantage in the competitive landscape of critical minerals and green energy projects.

Strategic Alignment with Decarbonisation and Economic Goals

The project’s integration into the Green Energy Major Projects group underscores its role in Western Australia’s clean energy transition. The group fosters collaboration among state agencies to provide clear assessment pathways and timely assistance to proponents, enhancing the state’s position as a global leader in critical minerals supply chains.

AVL’s CEO, Graham Arvidson, emphasised the importance of this recognition, highlighting the project’s potential to create local jobs and contribute to Australia’s net-zero ambitions. The project is a cornerstone in AVL’s strategy to deploy vanadium flow batteries, which are increasingly vital for medium and long-duration energy storage solutions.

Project Scope and Resource Strength

The Australian Vanadium Project encompasses an open-cut mine and concentrator at Gabanintha near Meekatharra, producing high-grade vanadium concentrate. This concentrate will be transported to a processing plant at Tenindewa, near Geraldton, where it will be refined into high-purity vanadium oxides and an iron concentrate coproduct for export.

With a substantial mineral resource estimate of 395.4 million tonnes at 0.77% vanadium pentoxide, including a high-grade zone of 173.2 million tonnes at 1.09% V2O5, the project ranks among the most advanced vanadium developments globally. This resource base underpins AVL’s vertically integrated approach, spanning mining, processing, and energy storage technology through its subsidiary VSUN Energy.

Implications for Australia’s Critical Minerals Industry

AVL’s project aligns closely with the Australian Government’s 'Future Made in Australia' plan, which promotes domestic manufacturing and critical minerals processing to support the nation’s clean energy transition. By establishing a local vanadium industry, AVL is poised to enhance Australia’s self-sufficiency in critical minerals and strengthen its position in global supply chains.

Investors and stakeholders should watch closely as AVL advances regulatory approvals and project development, which will be pivotal in delivering long-term value and reinforcing Western Australia’s leadership in green energy minerals.