Windimurra vanadium processing commences

VANADIUM processing has become the latest industry to arrive in WA with the opening of the Windimurra vanadium project near Mt Magnet which also introduced new process technology to Australia.

Windimurra, which began manufacturing vanadium earlier this year, is a joint venture between PMA and Xstrata AG – a public subsidiary of the world’s biggest vanadium producer Glencore International AG.

It is the world’s lowest cost vanadium producer and is on target to supply 17 million pounds per annum – nearly 12 per cent of world production.

Vanadium is used in metal alloys, mainly to strengthen structural steel. It is fundamental to the manufacture of products such as aircraft wings, load bearing structures, mobile phones and long-life battery cells.