Kalgoorlie rare earth processing facility receives ministerial approval
February 2, 2022
Rare earth mining company Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, headquartered in East Perth, Western Australia, reports the ongoing implementation of its Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility has received ministerial approval issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA).
The $500 million Kalgoorlie project is expected to create approximately 290 positions during construction and up to 128 new jobs as a result of the investment. $204 million is expected to be generated in output during construction over two years and an approximate $413 million annual increase in Goldfields-Esperance regional output is expected once the processing facility is operational, about $200 million of which will be the direct output of the project.
The location for the rare earth processing facility had been identified by the WA Government and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder as a potential site for critical minerals processing. The company states that it is pleased to be progressing this project to establish a critical minerals value-added processing facility in Kalgoorlie that meets the strict environmental conditions of Western Australian regulators. The approval is said to be consistent with the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach, its commitment to operating in a way that is safe for its people, its communities and the environment.
Lynas explains that it has worked closely with the government to ensure the Kalgoorlie Rare Earths processing facility sustainably supports the critical minerals and modern manufacturing strategies of the Australian Government, the future battery and critical minerals industries strategy of the Western Australian Government, and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s economic diversification plans. The company is currently focused on finalising the secondary approvals required for project implementation.
