The WA battery metal party continues as vanadium mines come to life
Date: Jan 25, 2019
WA’s ability to power the world will be bolstered over the coming years as several vanadium projects whir to life and thousands of jobs are created on the back of booming prices.
Vanadium is shaping up to be critical component in future energy storage but currently 90 per cent of the metal dug up is used to strengthen steel bars for construction.
The price for vanadium pentoxide exploded in China in 2018 to nearly US$35 a pound on the back of new Chinese construction regulations aimed at stamping out inferior steel.
It has since stabilised at US$16.10 a pound, well above the decade average.
