The Vecco Critical Minerals Project, a major renewable energy initiative to help generate manufacturing jobs on Queensland’s energy grid and has moved a step closer after gaining coordinated project status.
The plant would supply minerals for use in the local manufacture in Townsville of rechargeable batteries for grid-scale energy.
The “coordinated project” declaration from Queensland’s Coordinator-General for the Vecco Critical Minerals Project now paves the way for multiple environmental approvals.
The $798 million proposed project would see an open-cut mine built around 70km north of Julia Creek along with a critical minerals processing plant.
Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, said the proposal is an opportunity for Queensland to become a driving force in manufacturing energy storage technologies.
“Queensland’s status as a world leader in renewable energy is built on our abundant natural resources and skilled workforce,” said Grace.
“We can further enhance this status through an exciting proposal with the potential to further expand the North West’s critical minerals industry and generate local manufacturing jobs.
“With demand for battery storage set to increase tenfold by 2030, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Queensland to become a driving force in the development, manufacture, and deployment of new energy storage technologies.”
The project is predicted to create up to 300 jobs over the construction period, and up to 274 jobs during the mine’s operational phase.
Pending approvals, construction on the project is anticipated to start in 2025, with the operational phase expected to begin in late 2026.
The declaration allows the Coordinator-General to facilitate environmental approvals from the Queensland and Australian Governments.
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