In this episode, we chat to Nick Bridgen, Chief Executive at Ferro-Alloy Resources, who is developing a giant vanadium deposit in southern Kazakhstan.
 
Nick is a chartered accountant by background and also studied a degree in Psychology, Statistics, and Physics. His career has been in executive management within the resources industry. So, he is well versed in developing Ferro Alloy Resources to its full potential. Helped by the fact that he has worked in Kazakhstan for an extended period of time. We talk about the exisitng operations and the huge project they are developing.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 

The firm is already profitable and well-funded but there is much, much more to come.
95% of their vanadium assets have not been touched yet. They have already secured all of the funding they need to develop the vanadium extraction side of their business.
Ferro-Alloy Resources can extract their vanadium without a concentrator roaster.
This means much lower capital and operation costs, which makes them highly competitive.
The site already has power, roads, and a nearby workforce.
They estimate that by spending about $100 million on phase 1 they will eventually turn over $2 billion across both phases.
Vanadium is used to strengthen steel and demand is growing.
Where weight is not important, vanadium flow batteries are an attractive proposition.
Kazakhstan is now a well-run country, that has actively worked to make mining easier.
The by-products the firm is planning to produce, and sell are expected to more than pay for the vanadium production costs.
The firm´s small pilot plant has enabled them to develop the expertise they will need to extract the huge reserves of vanadium that they have.
Their small pilot plant enabled them to discover that concentrate processing is also highly profitable.
They are also currently upgrading and expanding their concentrates processing business.
The feasibility study is due to be released in the first half of next year.

 
 
BEST MOMENTS
‘That could increase the demand for vanadium by 50 or even 100%. ´
‘We will be able to take advantage of the growth in demand of the world and supply it at a cost that doesn't kill that demand.’
‘We are now fully funded.’
EPISODE RESOURCES
Website – http://www.ferro-alloy.com 
Email - info@ferro-alloy.com 
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
rob@mining-international.org 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ 
www.mining-international.org 
https://twitter.com/MiningConsult 
https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3 
 
 
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.
CONTACT METHOD
rob@mining-international.org 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ 
 
Podcast Description
 
Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information