Ferro-Alloy Resources commences production of ferro-molybdenum and vanadium pentoxide

Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd (LON:FAR), the vanadium producer and developer of the large Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Southern Kazakhstan, has announced it has started production of ferro-molybdenum and vanadium pentoxide.

In October 2020, the Company started to recover molybdenum in the form of calcium molybdate as a by-product during the recovery of vanadium from bought-in raw-material concentrates. Calcium molybdate was sold at a discount to the published price for the contained molybdenum. The Company is now converting this calcium molybdate to ferro-molybdenum which will enable the Company to avoid the discount.

The Company has also commissioned the equipment to convert ammonium metavanadate (AMV) into vanadium pentoxide.  Formerly, the AMV was sold at a small discount to the published price of the contained vanadium pentoxide.  Some amounts will continue to be sold as AMV in order to satisfy existing contracts, but increasing amounts will be converted to vanadium pentoxide, thus eliminating the discount for AMV.

The material remaining after extraction of the vanadium and molybdenum products from the vanadium-bearing concentrates contains quantities of nickel which the Company has been selling as a low-grade concentrate.  All of this material is now being sold and there are no remaining tailings or other residues remaining on site from operations.

The Company is now offering for sale:

·    Ammonium metavanadate (AMV)

·    Vanadium pentoxide

·    Ferro-molybdenum

·    Nickel concentrates

The Company has contracted for delivery of an electric arc furnace, expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2022.  This will be the last step in the current plans for the existing processing operation which is expected to bring vanadium production up to 1,500 tonnes (vanadium pentoxide equivalent) per year, as well as greatly reducing costs to make ferro-vanadium and enabling the production of ferro-nickel. The necessary connection of the plant to a high-voltage powerline and a 1,000 square metre process-plant extension have already been built in readiness for this equipment. 

Nick Bridgen, CEO, commented: “This low cost, revenue-generating step completes our current product line-up and allows us to extract the maximum value of the vanadium and molybdenum from our raw-materials.  Together with our low Kazakhstan operating costs, this enables us to be amongst the most efficient producers of vanadium from secondary raw materials

“We look forward to the addition of the electric arc furnace which will complete our plans for the existing plant, the earnings from which will contribute to the ongoing development of the main Balasausqandiq project.”

Click to view all articles for the EPIC:
Or click to view the full company profile:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

More articles like this

The role of Vanadium in steel alloys

Iron and steel refer to steel and pig iron, both of which are alloys with iron and carbon as the main elements. Iron and steel are the most widely used metal materials in industry. When vanadium

Ferro-Alloy Resources Limited

Uses, properties, and sources of Vanadium

About 80% of the vanadium produced is used as a steel additive. Vanadium-steel alloys are very tough and are used for armour plate, axles, tools, piston rods and crankshafts. Less than 1% of vanadium, and as

Profitability of future Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Researchers in Italy have estimated the profitability of future vanadium redox flow batteries based on real device and market parameters and found that market evolutions are heading to much more competitive systems, with capital costs down

The potential of Flow Batteries for long-term energy storage

In the coming decades, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will increasingly dominate the conventional power grid. Because those sources only generate electricity when it’s sunny or windy, ensuring a reliable grid—one that can

Discover the power of Vanadium Flow Batteries

In the fast-changing world of energy storage, the vanadium flow battery stands out. This new way of storing electricity has many great features, making it a top choice for different uses. Vanadium flow batteries work by

Innovative applications for vanadium flow battery technology

Energy storage systems are becoming a requirement for many electrical power delivery systems. Flow battery technology has commercial advantages over other energy storage systems because of the inherent efficiencies and life cycles available that do not

Ferro-Alloy Resources Feasibility Study Update

Ferro-Alloy Resources Limited (LON:FAR), the vanadium producer and developer of the large high grade Balasausqandiq vanadium project in Southern Kazakhstan, has announced a comprehensive update on the Project’s current Feasibility Study. The Company has also launched a third tranche of

Understanding Redox Flow Batteries and their benefits

What is a Redox Flow Battery A redox flow battery operates on the electrochemical principle of storing and generating electricity through oxidation and reduction reactions between distinct active materials, hence called “Redox” (i.e., “Red” from reducation

The potential of high power density Vanadium Flow Batteries

Vanadium flow batteries are a promising technology for storing renewable energy, as they have long lifespans, high safety, and scalability. However, they also have a high initial cost, which limits their widespread adoption. The key component of a