Lynas to build rare earths processing facility in Texas

Lynas Rare Earths has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lynas USA LLC, has signed a follow-on contract with the US Department of Defense (DoD) for the construction of the Heavy Rare Earths component of the Lynas US Rare Earths Processing Facility in Texas.

The updated contract is an expenditure-based contract under which all of Lynas’s properly allocable construction costs will be reimbursed. A contribution by the US Government of approximately US$258 million is currently allocated to the project.

Rare earths are critical inputs to advanced technologies in commercial and defence applications. This project, conceived and jointly supported by Lynas and the DoD, will strengthen supply chain resilience for responsibly produced rare earths as inputs to the United States’ burgeoning high-tech industry as well as US and allied nation national security needs. On completion, this project will be the only scale producer of separated heavy rare earths outside of China.

The contract is sponsored by the US Government’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program to support the development of a US rare earth supply chain.

Site acquisition completed for new facility

Lynas has completed the purchase of a 149-acre greenfield site in Seadrift, Texas. The site was purchased from Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and is located in an existing industrial zone. The site was selected for its proximity to a skilled workforce, potential customers, infrastructure and logistics.

This large site will allow for co-location of the integrated heavy rare earths and light rare earth separation plants as well as potential future growth opportunities such as downstream processing and recycling to create a circular mine-to-magnet supply chain. The facility is targeted to be operational in FY2026.

Once operational, feedstock for the facility will be sourced from the Lynas Mt Weld rare earths deposit and Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility in Western Australia. Mt Weld is recognised as a world-class source of light and heavy rare earth minerals. The US facility will be able to process feedstock from other sources if and when they become available and are qualified.

“We are delighted to work with the U.S. DoD to deliver our US heavy rare earths separation plant in Texas, which is a key pillar of Lynas’s growth strategy,” said Amanda Lacaze, CEO and Managing Director, Lynas Rare Earths. “This further support by the DoD demonstrates the priority being given to developing robust and resilient rare earth supply 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. Lynas is the only commercial scale source of separated rare earths outside of China and our expertise makes us the ideal partner for the DoD as it addresses supply chain vulnerabilities and strengthens national security.”

Image caption: Lynas Malaysia production line.