Richmond Vanadium Technology has brought DRA Global on board as engineering services consultant for the bankable feasibility study for its vanadium project.

The company describes the appointment of DRA as the latest important milestone in the development of the Richmond – Julia Creek vanadium project.

“We are very pleased to have attracted an engineering services consultant of the quality of DRA Global to work with the RVT team as development of the Richmond – Julia Creek Vanadium Project progresses,” Richmond Vanadium managing director Dr Shaun Ren said.

“DRA has delivered a number of significant projects in Australia and overseas across a diverse range of commodities including vanadium. This experience will be invaluable for RVT as the BFS moves towards completion by Q4 2024.”

Related: Metallurgical sampling to advance vanadium project

Since the completion of an updated pre-feasibility study in 2021, RVT has completed several phases of work including:

• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) final Terms of Reference released
• Epic Environmental appointed to deliver EIS and associated approvals
• Multi-user water assessment undertaken
• $3 million investment in Australia’s first vanadium redox flow battery maker, Ultra Power Systems
• Metallurgical sample from within the Stage 1 pit area taken for independent confirmation testing of RVT’s patented process flowsheet

The Queensland Government declared the Richmond-Julia Creek vanadium project to be a Coordinated Project in May 2022, making it the first critical minerals project to be awarded this status.

The company’s mineral resource comprises three main prospects – Lilyvale, Manfred and Rothbury – across five tenements and totals 1.838 billion tonnes grading at 0.36 per cent vanadium pentoxide.

The bankable feasibility study is being funded by the company’s $25 million IPO, completed in December last year.