$1bn Julia Creek Vanadium & Energy Project to create approx 1200 jobs

Queensland’s Coordinator-General has declared QEM Limited’s proposed $1.096 billion Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project (JCVEP) a Coordinated Project in December 2024. 

This declaration marks a major milestone in the project, recognising its complexity, strategic value and potential positive social and economic impact. The Coordinated Project status will also enable the Coordinator-General to facilitate environmental approvals from both State and Federal Governments as well as involve stakeholder and community consultation processes. 

“This declaration is another example of how Queensland is now open for business under the Crisafulli LNP Government. 

“Regional Queensland is the engine room of our economy and the Queensland Government is focused on creating an environment for growth. 

“Through the delivery of timely approvals and the coordination of major projects, the Crisafulli LNP Government will drive new job-creating projects through Queensland,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said. 

“Delivering major projects is a key priority of the Queensland Government. 

“The Office of the Coordinator-General will oversee the project evaluation by all government agencies, requiring an environmental impact statement with community consultation,” Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said. 

The proposed Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project will deliver a greenfield vanadium and oil shale mine alongside processing facilities. The project is going to be located about 16 kilometres southeast of Julia Creek, in the McKinlay Shire local government area and within the Julia Creek / Richmond Critical Minerals Zone. 

QEM Limited aims to produce 10,571 tonnes of high-purity vanadium pentoxide a year through this project as well as 313 million litres per annum of transport fuel such as diesel and aviation fuel over a 30-year mine life. 

The company is also proposing to refine high-purity vanadium pentoxide onsite and then transport it to Townsville for downstream domestic processing into vanadium electrolyte – a key component in the manufacture of vanadium flow batteries. 

“The dual commodity nature of our project aims to address two urgent needs: long-duration energy storage and domestic fuel security. 

“The adoption of vanadium flow batteries in 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,” QEM Limited Managing Director Gavin Loyden said. 

The billion-dollar project is anticipated to create up to 600 jobs over a two-year construction period and a further 588 jobs once the mine is operational. QEM Limited expects at least 35 per cent of the operational jobs will be residential – based in Julia Creek or nearby towns. 

Subject to approvals, project construction is expected to commence in 2028 with the commissioning and operational phase set to begin in late 2029. 

Over the past 24 months, QEM Limited has been conducting environmental baselines needed for the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The company will now begin preparing the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the project’s EIS, which will be released for public comment later on. 

“Coordinate Project status is another major milestone for QEM and I welcome the ongoing support from the Queensland Government for new and expanded mining opportunities and high-value industries, particularly in regional Queensland,” QEM Limited Chair Tim Wall said. 

“Projects like these will bring about the opportunity of economic growth that benefits all communities in our region, and we are looking forward to it being sustainable,” McKinlay Shire Council Mayor Janene Fegan said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; QEM Energy (1, 2); Australian Mining