[Ferro-Alloys.com] Vanadium producer secured for Queensland processing facility

The Crisafulli Government has locked in foundation customer Vecco Group for the Queensland Resources Common User Facility following completion of major construction.

Vecco Group to demonstrate and validate its vanadium production processes at Townsville facility.

The 2026-27 Budget is unlocking critical minerals with a program to accelerate extraction, processing and exporting across the sector

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, after a decade of decline under Labor.

 The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland’s critical minerals industry, signing Vecco Group as the foundation customer for the Queensland Resources Common User Facility (QRCUF) in Townsville. 

Vecco Group has signed on to validate its vanadium production processes at the facility, accelerating Australia's first pit-to-product vanadium flow battery supply chain.

With major construction now complete, the Australian-first facility will support companies to test and refine mineral processing techniques, helping de-risk projects and bring them to market sooner.

The milestone forms part of the Crisafulli Government’s broader plan to unlock Queensland’s critical minerals potential, supported by targeted investment in the 2026-27 Budget and policy review.

The 2026-27 Budget delivers $46.1 million over three years to accelerate the extraction, processing and export of critical minerals, alongside $6.4 million over two years to re-commercialise former mine sites to extract valuable critical minerals.

A review of the Financial Provisioning Scheme will also be undertaken to support new and ongoing resources investment. 

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the milestone showed the Crisafulli Government was delivering real, tangible investment to grow Queensland’s critical minerals industry from the ground up. 

“The completion of QRCUF means junior miners and explorers can de-risk their projects and accelerate development – that means more jobs and faster,” Minister Last said. 

“Vecco Group signing on as our foundation customer shows strong industry confidence and reflects the critical role QRCUF will play in fast-tracking projects from testing through to production.

“In the 2026-27 Budget we are investing $46.1 million to unlock critical minerals projects and $6.4 million to create new value from existing assets, with a review of the Financial Provisioning Scheme to drive more jobs, investment and growth across the State.

“Queensland is open for business and the Crisafulli Government is serious about growing a globally competitive critical minerals industry.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie said the completion of major construction at the QRCUF, after delays and cost blowouts from the former Labor Government, was another signal that Queensland was open for business, delivering for regional communities and workers by getting this project back on track.

“The Crisafulli Government is restoring confidence in Queensland as a place to invest, build and do business, ensuring projects like this can unlock the full potential of our world-class critical minerals sector and new regional jobs,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.

“North Queensland is home to around $700 billion in critical mineral resources, and we’re backing that potential with the infrastructure and investment needed to attract new industries, create good jobs and strengthen Queensland’s economy.

“For a decade, Labor failed to capitalize on the opportunities before us, but the Crisafulli Government is changing that by creating the right conditions for investment and making Queensland the destination of choice for critical minerals processing and advanced manufacturing jobs.

“This state-of-the-art facility will help cement Townsville’s position as a globally competitive hub for critical minerals innovation, delivering long-term economic opportunities for North Queensland and the entire state.”

Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said the new facility would deliver a boost to Townsville’s extensive minerals processing capabilities. 

“Townsville has long been a powerhouse for Queensland’s resources sector and this new facility builds on that legacy by creating more local jobs, strengthening our processing capability and backing the industries that will drive our region’s future,” Mrs Poole said. 

Vecco Group Managing Director Thomas Northcott said Vecco is proud to be working with the Queensland Government as foundation user of the QRCUF.

“The QRCUF is a significant milestone for Queensland’s critical minerals industry and will support the development and demonstration of new vanadium processing capability in the State,” Mr Northcott said.

"For Vecco, QRCUF represents an important step in progressing our integrated vanadium supply chain toward a shovel-ready project, from Queensland ore through to downstream electrolyte production for vanadium flow batteries helping power the next phase of the AI data centre infrastructure build-out and strengthen grid resiliency.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland Government as we build a globally competitive vanadium industry in Queensland.”?

• [Editor:tianyawei]