The United States Department of Defence is bankrolling a processing plant underneath a beefed-up contract with Australia’s main uncommon earths firm.
Lynas Rare Earths, the most important uncommon earths producer outdoors of China, on Tuesday introduced the up to date contract for the development of the heavy uncommon earths part of a processing facility in Texas.
Rare earths parts are important for defence expertise and industrial magnets, prompting US collaboration with Perth-headquartered Lynas.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Halimah Najieb-Locke stated the weather are an more and more necessary a part of any financial system, with functions in nearly each trade, together with defence and industrial markets.
“This effort is a cornerstone event in securing resilient supply chains by enabling the United States and its allies to gain an organic capability for critical minerals and materials, and depart from foreign dependence,” she stated.
Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze stated the plant was a “key pillar of (the company’s growth strategy” and demonstrates the precedence being given to creating safe provide chains.
“Our heavy rare earths separation plant will be the first of its kind outside China and will help to establish a globally significant, safe and environmentally responsible rare earths supply chain,” she stated.
The 149-acre greenfield website within the Seadrift industrial zone permits for 2 separation crops – for heavy and lightweight uncommon earths – in addition to future downstream processing and recycling to create a round “mine to magnet” provide chain.
The up to date expenditure-based contract will reimburse development prices underneath an elevated contribution by the US authorities.
Some $US258 million is allotted to the mission, up from $US120m introduced in June 2022, reflecting detailed design work and price updates.
Once operational, materials for the power might be sourced from the Lynas Mt Weld uncommon earths deposit and the Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility in Western Australia.
The plant will serve authorities and industrial prospects and is focused to be operational within the 2026 monetary yr, Lynas stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
