Lynas Corporation has received lead agency status from the West Australian government for its project to build a rare earth processing facility in Kalgoorlie.
Prime Minister of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, has welcomed the company's plan to turn the gold mining town into an important hub for minerals.
The Ministry of Labor, Tourism, Science and Innovation will assist Lynas with project advice and assistance in managing and coordinating permits within the project timeframe.
The facility is expected to create up to 500 jobs during construction and increase Lynas' workforce in the gold areas to over 200 people.
Lynas intends to staff the facility with local workers and will continue to work with Curtin University and the WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie.
At the beginning of December this year, Lynas had signed an option to sub-lease a plot of land in an industrial zone from the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and plans to explore options for further processing in Kalgoorlie.
The Kalgoorlie facility is expected to start operating in early 2023, for which it will take over the first processing stage of the Lynas Mount Weld mine.
Amanda Lacaze, Lynas chief executive officer and general manager, said the recognition of the Western Australian government underlines the strategic importance of the new facility for economic growth and job creation in the state of Kalgoorlie.
"We thank the Prime Minister of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, and the Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Bill Johnston, for their continued support of this project," said Lacaze.
Translation ISE / January 2020
