AUSTRALIAN rare earth miner Lynas Corp is set to open a separation facility in the United States after winning a contract from the US Department of Defence (DOD)

The company, which has a rare earth processing plant in Kuantan, Pahang, announced in Australian media that it had been awarded a Phase 1 contract for a US-based heavy rare earth separation facility.

Phase 1 covers the design and construction plan for the facility, the Australian Associated Press and The Market Herald reported.

The company said it hopes the successful completion of Phase 1 will lead to other contracts from the DOD.

This would be Lynas’ second facility besides its processing plant in Malaysia, which had come under heavy scrutiny and criticism by opposition lawmakers and environmental groups.

Lynas is the only major rare earth producer outside of China and sends material from its mining site in Western Australia for processing in Malaysia. – April 23, 2020.