"texas plant" is a separation facility or refinery. Lynas...

"texas plant" is a separation facility or refinery. Lynas produces pure LREEs such as La, Ce, Nd, Pr; also produces a MREE mixture called SEG for Sm, Eu, Gd; also produces an HREE mix containing Dy, Tb, and many others.

~80% of revenue comes from Nd and Pr. They are used for rare earth magnets (comprised of neodymium, iron and boron, aka NdPrFeB) which are unsurpassed in strength. Unfortunately, this magnet cannot handle heat, which if associated with higher power and many higher-value applications for NdFeB magnets, like EV traction motors. The heat problem is solved by adding a bit of Dy and/or esp Tb.

So Lynas is making plenty of NdPr but no DyTb. In other words, only half the recipe.

The Blue Line JV in Texas will take the HREE and separate all the metals including Dy and Tb, thus allowing Lynas to support the full recipe. It was a long time coming as Dy/Tb is essential.

There's a lot more to this and some exceptions, but that's the reason I am looking forward to the JV coming to fruition.

The BLJV will also supply the US DOD with the heavy rare earths they need, but that's a minor consideration, as is the funding from the DOD into the BLJV. In fact Lynas considers the DOD reward "immaterial" to their company as they will fully fund it regardless.

Hope that helps; welcome aboard. GLTAH