KUALA LUMPUR: Lynas Corporation Limited has selected Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, as the location for its new cracking and leaching plant, creating new jobs and a first step in establishing a critical minerals hub in the Goldfields region.
In a statement, Lynas said Kalgoorlie was selected from the two shortlisted locations in the Goldfields region following extensive due diligence.
“Kalgoorlie provides close proximity to the Lynas mine at Mt Weld as well as a skilled workforce and a rich history in the mining and processing industries,” the statement said.
Lynas signed an option to sublease an industrial zoned property from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The terms of the proposed sublease are now being finalised.
Lynas’ Kalgoorlie cracking and leaching plant will upgrade the Lynas Mt Weld rare earth concentrate that is currently exported to the Lynas rare earth processing facility in Malaysia.
Lynas will also explore opportunities for the next stage processing (upstream solvent extraction) in Western Australia.
Lynas chief chief executive officer and managing director Amanda Lacaze the company is excited to contribute to economic development in Kalgoorlie-Boulder via the new plant.
“We look forward to sharing further details with the local communities as our plans progress. Lynas was built from the ground up as an environmentally responsible Rare Earths producer and we will take the same approach to our facility in Kalgoorlie.
“We also acknowledge the support from the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government to enhance the critical minerals industry in the Kalgoorlie region.
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder chief executive officer John Walker, meanwhile, said the new plant will help diversify the local economy and expand the number of skilled residential jobs available in the city.
“There are so many exciting opportunities that this partnership brings about, and we look forward to working with all of the key stakeholders, including the State and Federal Governments to further support downstream processing in Kalgoorlie-Boulder,” he added.