Australian Vanadium has cleared another regulatory hurdle for its Tenindewa processing facility, with the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) approving the development application.
The plant, which will be built about 65km east of Geraldton, is a central component of the Australian Vanadium project. The project also includes a mine and concentrator at Gabanintha near Meekatharra and a vanadium electrolyte manufacturing plant already operating in Perth.
Together, these facilities will enable the company to produce vanadium products, manufacture electrolyte and support deployment of vanadium flow batteries entirely within Western Australia.
The WAPC decision follows a detailed assessment by the Significant Development Assessment Unit (SDAU) of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, which recommended approval subject to conditions.
In the SDAU’s recommendation, it affirmed the role of vanadium in supporting Australia’s energy security and the project’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Future Made in Australia plan.
Australian Vanadium chief executive officer Graham Arvidson described the approval as a landmark moment for the company and a significant step forward in realising its vision of a homegrown, fully-integrated vanadium value chain.
“We sincerely thank the WAPC, SDAU and all stakeholders who contributed thoughtful feedback during the application process,” Arvidson said. “Our team is committed to working constructively with the community, Traditional Owners and regulators as we progress toward construction.
“The Tenindewa processing facility will bring long-term economic and social benefits to the Mid West, including job creation, regional investment and new opportunities across the critical minerals and renewable energy sectors.”
Arvidson added that with development approval now in place, Australian Vanadium will progress secondary approvals, advance detailed engineering and continue project planning activities to support future investment and execution decisions.
The Tenindewa facility is expected to play a critical role in Australian Vanadium’s strategy to establish a fully vertically integrated vanadium operation, spanning mining, processing and electrolyte production all within Western Australia.