A Landmark Initiative for the Minerals Industry
North-West Queensland is set to witness a transformative development with the approval of QEM Limited’s $1.096 billion Julia Creek Project. Granted coordinated-project status, the initiative aims to bolster the region’s critical minerals industry and domestic fuel production. Located approximately 16 km southeast of Julia Creek in the McKinlay Shire, the project involves establishing a greenfield vanadium and oil shale mine alongside advanced processing facilities within the Julia Creek / Richmond Critical Minerals Zone.
This ambitious project is designed to produce 10,571 tonnes of high-purity vanadium pentoxide and 313 million liters of transport fuel annually, including diesel and aviation fuel, over its 30-year mine lifespan. In addition, vanadium pentoxide will be refined on-site and transported to Townsville for further processing into vanadium electrolyte, a critical component of vanadium flow batteries used in long-duration energy storage.
Economic Boost and Job Creation
The Julia Creek project is poised to generate substantial economic benefits, creating 600 jobs during its two-year construction phase and approximately 588 operational roles thereafter. QEM Limited plans to ensure that at least 35% of these operational positions are filled by residents of Julia Creek or nearby towns, contributing to local employment opportunities.
Pending necessary approvals, construction is slated to commence in early 2028, with operations expected to begin by late 2029. The project’s declaration as a coordinated project allows the Queensland Coordinator-General to streamline the environmental approval process while engaging with stakeholders and the community. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Queensland Government’s commitment to fostering new mining opportunities and regional economic growth. “Regional Queensland is the engine room of our economy,” he remarked, underscoring the government’s focus on facilitating timely approvals for job-creating projects.
Strategic Vision for Sustainability and Innovation
Local leaders and stakeholders have lauded the project’s potential to enhance the region’s critical minerals capabilities. McKinlay Shire Mayor Janene Fegan highlighted the long-term economic benefits, stating, “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.”
Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan noted the project’s significance in advancing domestic fuel security and the critical minerals industry. “Delivering major projects is a key priority of the Queensland Government,” he said, emphasizing the importance of environmental assessments and community engagement.
QEM Limited’s Managing Director Gavin Loyden echoed these sentiments, outlining the project’s dual focus on energy storage and fuel security. “The adoption of vanadium flow batteries is accelerating around the world, and Queensland is uniquely positioned to establish a ‘pit to battery’ manufacturing value chain,” Loyden explained. He expressed the company’s commitment to expanding its role in this value chain by processing vanadium pentoxide into electrolyte for long-duration batteries.
With its dual focus on critical mineral extraction and fuel production, the Julia Creek project promises to position North-West Queensland as a hub for innovation and economic growth, paving the way for a sustainable and resource-driven future.
