Mr. Adriaan Bakker reports
VANADIUMCORP COMMENTS ON NEW US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RECOGNIZING VANADIUM
AND TITANIUM AS CRITICAL TO A NATIONAL ECONOMY AND NATIONAL SECURITY AND
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUBSEQUENT EXECUTIVE ORDER
Vanadiumcorp Resource Inc.
has commented on the release of the United States Geological Survey's report on the critical mineral resources of
the United States and President Donald Trump's order to develop a federal critical mineral strategy.
The report lists 23 metals and minerals that are critical to "the national economy and national security
of the United States." Vanadium and titanium are two of the 23 materials listed, recognized as critical to
"national economy and national security" and are just a few of the metals and minerals on the list for
which the U.S. is import-dependent. The 850-page report is the first comprehensive update on the U.S.
mineral resource landscape since the 1973 oil crisis.
The report is followed by a Presidential executive order to develop a federal strategy to reduce foreign
dependence on critical minerals.
Vanadiumcorp owns a significant vanadium-titanium-iron-bearing resource base in one of the world's
most mining-friendly jurisdictions, Quebec, Canada. Vanadiumcorp is also exploring licensing and jointly
developing innovative, carbon-free process technology that unlocks new strategic supplies of vanadium
and various coproducts, including titanium.
The reports states
Regarding vanadium for energy storage: "The emerging need for large-scale electricity storage makes
vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRBs) a major potential future use of vanadium. Because of their
large-scale storage capacity, development of VRBs could prompt increases in the use of wind, solar and
other renewable intermittent-power sources. Lithium-vanadium-phosphate batteries produce high
voltages and high energy-to-weight ratios, which make them ideal for use in electric cars. Vanadium use
in lithium batteries is expected to increase to 1,700 metric tons in 2017 from 200 metric tons in 2012
(Perles, 2013).
"The VRB ... consists of an assembly of power cells in which two vanadium-based
electrolytes are separated by a proton-exchange membrane. The main advantages of the VRBs are (a)
their nearly unlimited capacity, which is made possible simply by using sequentially larger storage tanks;
(b) their ability to be left completely discharged for long periods of time with no detrimental effects; (c)
the ease of recharging them by replacing the electrolyte if no power source is available to charge it; and
(d) their ability to withstand permanent damage if the electrolytes are accidentally mixed (Polyak, 2012)."
Regarding alloys and steel, "Vanadium is irreplaceable for its role in aerospace applications because
vanadium-titanium alloys have the best strength-to-weight ratio of any engineered material yet
discovered." Vanadium, when combined with titanium, produces a stronger and more stable alloy, and
when combined with aluminum produces a material suitable for jet engines and high-speed airframes.
No acceptable substitutes exist for vanadium in aerospace titanium alloys.
"The high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels containing vanadium are widely used for the construction of
auto parts, buildings, bridges, cranes, pipelines, rail cars, ships and truck bodies, including armor plating
for military vehicles (Polyak, 2012)." "Only a limited degree of substitution is possible among these
metals, however. Replacement of vanadium with other mineral commodities requires significant
technical adjustments to the steel-production process to ensure that product specifications and quality
are not compromised. For example, use of vanadium generally requires less energy consumption during
production than does niobium to give equivalent steel properties. Therefore, substitution for vanadium
is normally not considered for short-term changes in market conditions because of the considerable
effort involved in implementing the change."
"Additionally, significant amounts of vanadium are available for commercial use as a byproduct of
petroleum refining, and processing of coal, tar sands and oil shales may be important future sources."
These types of feedstocks as well as virtually any other vanadium-bearing waste or primary source can
now be processed carbon free with high-efficiency Vanadiumcorp and Electrochem combined
technologies. The exclusive products targeted include Vanadiumcorp's Electrolyte and many specialty
metals including titanium that are also included in 23 critical materials listed in the report.
The report, formally titled "Critical Mineral Resources of the United States Economic and Environmental
Geology and Prospects for Future Supply," (USGS Professional Report 1802), updates USGS Report 820,
issued 44 years ago during the 1973 oil crisis. The report presents updated reviews of 23 mineral
commodities and commodity groups viewed as critical to a broad range of existing and emerging
technologies, renewable energy and national security. The report represents the U.S. government's
most comprehensive assessment of the nation's mineral resource profile and potential, serving to inform
federal mineral policy.
Secretary Ryan Zinke of the Department of the Interior, which oversees the USGS, stated on the
release of the report: "I commend the team of scientists at USGS for the extensive work put into the
report, but the findings are shocking. The fact that previous administrations allowed the United States
to become reliant on foreign nations, including our competitors and adversaries, for minerals that are
so strategically important to our security and economy is deeply troubling. As both a former military
commander and geologist, I know the very real national security risk of relying on foreign nations for
what the military needs to keep our soldiers and our homeland safe."
The USGS study was followed by the signing of a new executive order by President Trump, "A Federal
Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals." The executive order directs the
U.S. secretaries of the Interior and Defense to prepare a list of critical minerals within 60 days, and to
develop and report within six months a strategy for reducing foreign dependence on those metals and
minerals deemed critical. "This executive order will prioritize reducing the nation's vulnerability to
disruptions in our supply of critical minerals safely and responsibility for the benefit of the American
people," said President Trump.
About Vanadiumcorp Resources Inc.
The company is developing and exploring licensing potential for an innovative, carbon-free process technology that unlocks a new strategic supply of vanadium and co-products from virtually any source. Jointly developed and owned with Electrochem, this innovative chemical process allows for integrated and carbon-free recovery of critical metals needed on a global scale. Vanadiumcorp also holds a significant National Instrument 43-101 vanadium resource base in mining-friendly Quebec, Canada.
We seek Safe Harbor.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.