Lynas Rare Earths has officially inaugurated its new $800 million state-of-the-art rare earth processing facility in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
The facility, which was first announced in 2019, was completed in just over two and a half years following the receipt of construction approvals. It is set to create around 115 direct jobs in the Goldfields region, processing ores from Lynas’ nearby Mt Weld mine to produce mixed rare earth carbonate.
Rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals are vital for a wide range of clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. These materials are also crucial to sectors like the defense industry and medical devices.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, attended the opening ceremony and highlighted the global significance of the facility, noting that it is the first rare earth processing plant in Australia and the largest outside of China.
“This is a major milestone for Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and for Australia as a whole,” King said. “Facilities like Lynas’ Kalgoorlie plant not only bring significant economic benefits to Australia but also strengthen our sovereignty in critical mineral production.”
Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze praised the project’s completion, emphasizing the scale and importance of the facility for the company’s future. “Building, commissioning, and bringing this facility into production in just over two and a half years is an incredible achievement,” Lacaze said. “I am immensely proud of our team’s work. The facility is now fully operational and contributing to our growth.”
Lynas is one of the few significant rare earth producers outside of China, and its Kalgoorlie facility will produce mixed rare earth carbonate that is shipped to Lynas’ Malaysian facility for further processing into individual products. In the future, it is also expected to support Lynas’ planned facility in the United States.
The Kalgoorlie plant marks an important step for Lynas in its effort to secure a critical role in the global rare earth supply chain, supporting the growing demand for these vital minerals in the clean energy transition and beyond.
