Ann: Lynas Selects Kalgoorlie, page-16

The key points in today’s announcement, of course, are the clear indications that Lynas has fully accepted the need to plan its future expansion away from the ‘dead hand of Malaysian political interference’. And especially the clear statement that Lynas is actively considering expanding the new Kalgoorlie plant into a full coverage of the current LAMP solvent extraction processes - should send cold shivers in the Malaysian Cabinet:
“...Lynas will also explore opportunities for the next stage processing (upstream solvent extraction) in Western Australia....”

Because in addition to the very important IP of the cracking and leaching that will now be done with much greater process and logistic efficiency in Kalgoorlie than it has been at the LAMP, there are also now likely to be greater efficiencies in the new multiple complex SX circuits that also represent Lynas’s key IP; in toto, unmatched outside China. (Remember that Molycorp never managed to achieve quality RE processing to customer needs, and it took Lynas several years to achieve to the highest standards needed...)

It would also be reasonable to conclude that any new such plant at Kalgoorlie would provide for a substantial RE production increase, possibly even rivalling the now augmented LAMP. When added to the 25,000 tonnes from the LAMP, which of course Amanda will strongly wish to retain for as long as possible, that could more than double Lynas RE production. IMHO, this would be just what Western EV manufacturers will be needing to provide assured sourcing for their now rapidly expanding production plans over the next 3-5 years.