Critical minerals player QEM has welcomed State and Federal government moves that blaze the approvals trail for its Julia Creek vanadium and energy project.

Queensland’s Office of the Coordinator General last month declared coordinated project status for the North-West Queensland development.

And QEM today announced that the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEW) had deemed the project a controlled action.

It said the DCCEW also determined that the project’s environmental approvals pathway would be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, streamlining the process of issuing an environmental impact statement.

The project involves the development of a greenfield vanadium and oil shale mine along with processing facilities about 16km south-east of Julia Creek.

QEM chair Tim Wall said that the recent Queensland Government decision to designate it as a coordinated project, along with the controlled action decision, provided certainty on the approval pathway for the project.

Related: Scoping study outlines ‘robust economics’ for QEM project

QEM managing director Gavin Loyden said the company looked forward to finalisation of the EIS terms of reference as it conducted the next stage of required environmental technical studies.

“The dual commodity nature of our project in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province aims to address two urgent needs: long-duration energy storage and domestic fuel security,” he said.

“We are committed to develop the JCVEP (Julia Creek vanadium and energy project) and unlock the value of this world-class critical minerals project and to position it as a long-term supplier of vanadium electrolyte for the manufacture of vanadium flow batteries for many decades to come.

“The adoption of vanadium flow batteries is 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.”

The JCVEP is predicted to create up to 600 jobs over a two-year construction period and about 588 permanent jobs during its operational phase.

The company expects that at least 35 per cent of the operational jobs will be based in Julia Creek or nearby towns.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the $1.096 billion project aligned with the Queensland Government’s agenda for new and expanded mining opportunities across the state.

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

“Through the delivery of timely approvals and the coordination of major projects, the Crisafulli LNP Government will drive new job-creating projects throughout Queensland.”

Pending approvals, QEM said construction would begin in early 2028, with a commissioning and operational phase to begin in late 2029.

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