Lynas announces A$500M Mt Weld expansion to feed 12,000 t/yr of NdPr

Lynas Rare Earths/Mt Weld mine and Kalgoorlie processing

Lynas announced an approximately A$500 million project to expand the Mt Weld mine and concentration plant, targeting feedstock capacity of 12,000 tonnes a year of NdPr equivalent in 2024. The project, funded from cash flow, adds crushing and grinding, more flotation circuits, an apatite leach and a water-recycling circuit. Two further stages could each add about 2,400 tonnes a year.

• Target: 12,000 t/yr NdPr equivalent feed in 2024 (full operation planned for 2024).
• Earlier Lynas 2025 plan aimed for 10,500 t/yr NdPr by 2025.
• Magnet demand forecast: 130,000 t in 2020 to 265,000 t in 2030.
• Includes a staged shift from diesel to gas and hybrid renewable power.