Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has appointed Todd Richardson to drive its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gabanintha Vanadium Project in Western Australia.
Richardson is a vanadium production and technical management expert and will take on the role as Gabanintha project manager.
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His initial contract will be for three months and his role will be to oversee the PFS.
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Richardson has over 20 years of vanadium operations’ experience, in both Australia and the US.
He has worked for global vanadium companies in production and technical management roles.
Todd Richardson has worked at a nearby vanadium project
Notably, Richardson has spent time at the Windimurra mine and production site.
Windimurra is located in Western Australia, close to the company’s Gabanintha deposit and is a potential location for processing.
Richardson is the third key appointment for Gabanintha after Brian McNab from consultancy firm Wood and vanadium expert Daniel Harris who is now a technical director.
Primary contractor for the PFS appointed
AVL has outlined that it intends to appoint consultancy firm Wood as the primary contractor for the PFS.
Financial modelling is already underway and environmental baseline studies have been completed.
The focus will now shift to refining the mining and processing routes.
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AVL’s managing director Vincent Algar said: “These appointments build upon the extensive knowledge Daniel Harris has already brought to the company with regard to developing vanadium projects.
“We have made significant advances at Gabanintha this past year and the combination of Todd, Brian and Daniel’s skills will help us structure and deliver this vital next stage.
“We are working actively towards our goal of being the next vanadium mine to market, with our high-grade deposit proving itself to be economically attractive.”