VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – TSX-V-listed VanadiumCorp Resource has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Quebec-based industrial company Electrochem Technologies & Materials to collaborate on the development of metallurgical and electrochemical technologies to produce vanadium electrolyte (VE) directly from vanadiferous titaniferous magnetite (VTM) concentrate.

Under the terms of the MoU, the companies will collaborate on several key strategic initiatives, including development to produce vanadium-rich pregnant leach solution (VE precursor) and other specialty high-purity vanadium materials.

The companies will also work together on developing and commercialising efficient and environment-friendly metallurgical and electrochemical processing technologies, including the simultaneous removal of contaminant metals and the concurrent regeneration of chemicals.

The parties also aim to pursue reasonable efforts to enter into a definitive agreement within 12 months.

"Our partnership with Electrochem will focus on the most critical cost-reducing component of vanadium batteries. Integrating exclusive vanadium supply with new technology is the ultimate strategy to reduce cost per kilowatt-hour and accelerate commercialisation of vanadium-based energy storage,” VanadiumCorp president and CEO Adriaan Bakker stated this week.

In January, VanadiumCorp signed an MoU with leading UK technology company C-Tech Innovation to collaborate on the development of a vanadium electrolyte VE plant in Canada. Direct VE capacity is the main consideration in the company’s preliminary economic assessment. C-Tech will assist in recovery optimisation and beneficiation of VanadiumCorp electrolyte directly from magnetite concentrate.

Last May, VanadiumCorp also executed a similar nonbinding MoU with German firm SCHMID Energy Systems and entered into a partnership agreement with the Vanadium Electrolyte Process Partnership, to collaborate and explore joint business opportunities to develop VE and other specialty high-purity vanadium materials by direct process from VanadiumCorp’s mineral claims located in the mining centre of Chibougamau, Quebec.

VanadiumCorp has outlined the general process and production development outline for its Lac Dore vanadium project, in Quebec, with next steps entailing the start of prototype testing of VTM; demonstrating recoveries and economics in pilot testing; and commercial vanadium electrolyte manufacture.

The partners consider developing a vertically integrated supply chain for VE manufacture in Canada would be a disruptive approach to take advantage of the emerging vanadium-flow energy storage market.