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General Market Commentary
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General Energy
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General Market Commentary
Prophecy Development readies to become the newest North American Vanadium producer in 2022
Many experts agree that vanadium is the new age miracle metal, but is it really that new? Vanadium is a medium-hard, steel-blue metal that has been a miracle metal since it was used by Henry Ford on an industrial scale, in the 1908 Model T car chassis. Although a lesser-known metal, it is quite valuable in the manufacturing industry due to its malleable, ductile and corrosion-resistant qualities. The old age miracle part comes from its hardening properties that Ford was interested in as just two pounds of vanadium added to a tonne of steel doubles its strength. Today’s new age miracle label comes not only from its continuing use as a steel hardener but also its use in vanadium redox flow batteries, mostly used for grid-scale energy storage.
The battery energy storage industry is about to take off. Valued in 2018 at US$11 billion it is forecast to grow to US$170 billion by 2030. That’s an annual growth of 25.6%, and total growth of 1,445%. China is already building several VRFB installations and California recently opened their first one with enough power for about 1,000 homes for up to four hours.
Vanadium based energy storage to grow rapidly
Vanadium based energy storage to grow rapidly
Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX: PCY | OTCQX: PRPCF) is the owner of the Gibellini Mining Project located in Nevada. The Project is the only large scale, open-pit, heap-leach vanadium project of its kind in North America, and is currently undergoing EPCM and EIS preparation.
Prophecy’s Gibellini Project key metrics
The economics of the Gibellini Project is solid with an NPV of $338m, and a low CapEx of just $117m, resulting in an IRR of 51%.
Prophecy’s next steps and timeline to production
After meeting with regulators in late April 2019, the Company has recently announced its guidance regarding expected permitting timelines at Gibellini. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision (ROD) would be expected no later than Q1 2021. On receipt of a positive ROD and issuance of State permits, Prophecy plans to start mine construction in 2021. The Company expects to be a vanadium producer by Q4 2022. In the interim of this process, the Company will be seeking project financing.