Name of the Project
Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility.
Location
Goldfields region of Western Australia.
Project Owner/s
Rare earths miner Lynas Kalgoorlie, a subsidiary of rare earths developer Lynas Rare Earths.
Project Description
The project entails the construction and operation of the processing facility, which will process rare-earth concentrate, sourced from Lynas’ Mt Weld mine, to produce a rare-earth carbonate for export.
The processing facility site will comprise an acid cracking kiln and leaching plant, which will process material from the Mt Weld mine site.
Associated infrastructure includes small, temporary by-product (gypsum and iron phosphate) storage areas at the facility, which are not intended to provide long-term storage.
The facility was originally intended to deliver a nameplate processing capacity of mixed rare-earth carbonate (MREC) feedstock to produce about 7 000 t/y neodymium and praseodymium finished product. With the previously announced upgrades, the facility is now expected to deliver a nameplate processing capacity of MREC feedstock to produce about 9 000 t/y neodymium and praseodymium finished product.
Potential Job Creation
About 290 positions are expected to be created during construction.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
The budget for the Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility has increased to A$730-million.
Planned Start/End Date
The first production of mixed rare-earth carbonate is expected in August 2023.
Latest Developments
The first feed material from the Mt Weld mine has been introduced into the A$730-million processing facility, marking its transitioning from the commissioning phase to first production.
The mixed rare-earth carbonate from the processing facility will be progressively introduced to the Lynas Malaysia plant from late in the March quarter of next year.
Malaysia issued Lynas with a variation to its operating licence in October, allowing for the continued importation and processing of lanthanide concentrate from Mt Weld.
The Lynas Malaysia plant is currently idled, as work to increase downstream processing capacity is completed, with production to restart in January 2024.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Lynas Rare Earths, tel +61 8 6241 3800.