Australian rare-earths mining company Lynas Corporation has unveiled plans to build a rare earth processing plant near Kalgoorlie.
The new plant will process rare earth materials from the company’s Mt Weld mine, generating approximately 500 construction and 200 ongoing jobs in the region.
Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, welcomed the Lynas’ announcement as a ‘fantastic result for Kalgoorlie, the Goldfields region and Western Australia’.
“This investment in infrastructure, the local workforce and research, is a key example of how the WA Government is working with industry to diversify the economy and deliver jobs of the future,” Mr McGowan continued.
“Kalgoorlie has a long and rich history in mining innovation, so there is no better place for Lynas Corporation, and other multi-national businesses, to set up their processing operations.
“I’m pleased Lynas will continue to work with Curtin University and the WA School of Mines to enhance knowledge and technologies surrounding the processing of critical minerals in Australia and continue to upskill Western Australians for these important local roles.”
Lynas CEO & Managing Director, Amanda Lacaze said Kalgoorlie was selected from the two shortlisted locations in the Goldfields region following extensive due diligence.
“We are excited to announce Kalgoorlie as the location for our robust, value-added processing facility in Western Australia,” MS Lacaze stated.
“Kalgoorlie is a terrific city and an ideal location for our new cracking and leaching plant. We are excited to contribute to economic development in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.”
